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: Paragraph Formatting Shortcuts.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated May 18, 2024)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Many people find it easier to use keyboard commands than to constantly stop and use the mouse. Word accommodates these people by providing several shortcuts you can use to format paragraphs. The following table lists several keyboard shortcuts you can use for your paragraph formatting:
| Shortcut | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl+1 | Single-spaced paragraph | |
| Ctrl+5 | 1 1/2-line paragraph spacing | |
| Ctrl+2 | Double-spaced paragraph | |
| Ctrl+L | Left-aligned paragraph | |
| Ctrl+E | Centered paragraph | |
| Ctrl+R | Right-aligned paragraph | |
| Ctrl+J | Justified paragraph | |
| Ctrl+0 | Add or remove one line of space before the paragraph | |
| Ctrl+M | Increase indent one tab stop | |
| Shift+Ctrl+M | Decrease indent one tab stop | |
| Ctrl+T | Increase hanging indent by one tab stop | |
| Shift+Ctrl+T | Decrease hanging indent by one tab stop |
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1043) 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: Paragraph Formatting Shortcuts.
The First and Last Word on Word! Bestselling For Dummies author Dan Gookin puts his usual fun and friendly candor back to work to show you how to navigate Word 2019. Spend more time working and less time trying to figure it all out! Check out Word 2019 For Dummies today!
There is no need to press Enter a second time at the end of each paragraph. Let Word take care of the spacing ...
Discover MoreTired of the formatting used in a paragraph? One way to "start over" is to make sure that the formatting is reset to its ...
Discover MoreAdd a border to a paragraph and you may find that it extends to the left and right of the regular text margins. To pull ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2024-10-08 14:41:36
Kam
Hello,
I'm using Office Professional 2021. Something seems to have changed -- when I use Control+0 in Word, the shortcut now defaults to Zoom100. I am not even able to overwrite the key assignment with a macro. Any idea what might be going on? Any help is greatly appeciated!
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.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
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:
Comments