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: Triple-Spacing Your Document.

Triple-Spacing Your Document

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 18, 2020)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


If you ever have a need to triple-space your document before printing it, Word provides an easy way to do this. If possible, you should keep your document in the format in which you view it on the screen, and only format it for triple spacing before you actually print. To print a triple-spaced version of your document, do the following:

  1. Save your document.
  2. Press Ctrl+A to select the entire document.
  3. Choose Format | Paragraph. Word displays the Paragraph dialog box. (See Figure 1.) You may notice that some of the fields in the dialog box are not filled in. This is because you have selected the entire document, and no single paragraph setting applies to the entire document.
  4. Figure 1. The Paragraph dialog box.

  5. In the Spacing area, choose Multiple in the Line Spacing drop-down list.
  6. Change the At setting (to the right of the Line Spacing drop-down list) to 3.
  7. Click on OK.
  8. Print your document.
  9. Close your document without saving.

This last step is important. If you save your document before exiting, then the triple spacing will be permanently saved with the document, as well.

If you have the Line Spacing tool on the toolbar, then there is another way you can apply triple spacing. (If you are using a version of Word that does not display the Line Spacing tool by default you can use the customization capabilities of Word to add it.) Follow these steps:

  1. Save your document.
  2. Press Ctrl+A.
  3. Click the down-arrow at the right side of the Line Spacing tool. A number of spacing options appear.
  4. Choose 3. Your entire document is triple spaced.
  5. Print your document.
  6. Close your document without saving.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1089) 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: Triple-Spacing Your Document.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Deleting the Open Document File

Want to delete the document you are currently viewing? Word doesn't provide a way to do it, but you can use the macro in ...

Discover More

Replacing Background Colors in Cells

Want a quick way to replace background colors in cells? It's easy to do using Find and Replace, or you can simply use the ...

Discover More

Entire Document Won't Print

When you try to print a document, you might be surprised if you don't get the entire document you expected. This tip ...

Discover More

Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!

More WordTips (menu)

Multiple Pages Per Sheet

You can save on paper on your printouts by instructing Word to print multiple pages on a single sheet of paper. In fact, ...

Discover More

Changing Print Dialog Box Defaults

Some of the built-in defaults in Word can't be changed. Often times, however, you can work around these defaults by using ...

Discover More

Booklet Printing in Word

Need to create a booklet with Word? Depending on your version, it could be as easy as changing how you print your final ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 0 + 7?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


This Site

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.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.