Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Creating a Hanging Indent.
"Hanging indent" is the typographical term for a paragraph in which the first line is not indented, but subsequent lines in the paragraph are. Typically, hanging indents are used for numbered and bulleted lists. To create a hanging indent in Word, use the following steps:
Figure 1. The Paragraph dialog box.
Of course, Word provides shortcuts to create the most common application of hanging indents—numbered and bulleted lists. To apply these, you can simply use the appropriate Numbering or Bullets tools on the Formatting toolbar.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (267) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Creating a Hanging Indent.
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A hanging indent is a type of paragraph formatting in which all lines of the paragraph are indented from the left margin ...
Discover MoreYou may search high and low for a way to add automatic numbers to paragraphs in a document. You won't find the ...
Discover MorePress a tab at the beginning of a paragraph, and Word normally assumes you want to indent the paragraph. If you don't ...
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2017-09-07 17:55:59
Reuben
so helpful and easy to understand, thank you so much!!
2016-09-22 17:39:48
Ali
Thank you sssooooooooo much Dave!! You rock!
2015-11-04 15:01:20
money
this does not work
2015-09-27 18:17:12
Sarah
LIFESAVER
2015-09-02 13:32:13
mel
Thanks Dave ! saved so much time
2015-06-03 06:17:05
Ann
Dave, you are a lifesaver. Your info on creating a hanging indent saved me. I had been pushing buttons and messing up things for an hour. Thanks again!
2015-05-27 06:00:09
Hlayisi Shivambu
Source so helpful indeed, wouldn't know where to start. Thank you
2015-05-07 12:33:05
ctrl-t creates a hanging indent in Word 2013. Much faster than your method.
shift-ctrl-t removes hanging indent in Word 2013.
2015-04-27 19:58:12
hhiii
wow...idc
2015-03-17 15:25:37
Liz
Thanks for this. My brother totally messed me up on my citing last year and that made me fail so I'm glad this was here to help.
2015-03-03 21:25:48
james
This source really helped me thank you you all are truly excellent
2014-12-04 03:19:39
Amber
Super helpful and easy to follow! Thank you
Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: 
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