What is double spaced on word

To double-space the whole document, go to Design > Paragraph Spacing, and choose Double.

Tip: To double-space only part of the document, select the paragraphs you want to change, go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing, and choose 2.0.

Double-space the entire document

1. On the Home tab, in the Styles group, right-click Normal, and then click Modify.

   

2. Under Formatting, click the Double Space button, and then click OK.

   Formatting for the entire document changes to double spacing.

Double-space the selected text

1. Select the text that you want to change.

2. On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click Line and Paragraph Spacing (Line Spacing in Word 2007) .

3. Click 2.0.

How do you double space in Word? It’s a simple question, but there are various ways to accomplish the same thing. In this guide, we’ll cover how to get that white space when and where you need it. We’ll also cover what it means and when it’s time to make it a double (so to speak).

Read on for more or jump straight to the double-spacing options.

Article Roadmap

• What is Double Spacing in Word?
• When Should I Double Space?
• How to Double Space in Word
  • For Most Versions
  • Microsoft Office 365 (Microsoft Word 2016+)
  • Microsoft Word 2007, 2010 & 2013
  • Double Spacing for Some Text
  • Double Spacing for a New Paragraph
• FAQs

What is Double Spacing in Word?

Double spacing, simply put, is the act of adding a blank line between every line of text, like an extra bit of padding. The result is a document that’s doubled in size and easier on the eyes.

The extra line genesis comes from the original generator of all printed text, the typewriter. It set line spacing at six lines per inch during the typewriter’s days. If a writer wanted more room on the page, they skipped a line.

This quote from Matt Samberg’s article, “Line Spacing, Explained,” sums it up nicely.

Back in the old days of typewriters, line spacing was always 6 lines per inch (12 points per line). This was a mechanical feature of the type writer; it could not be changed. Your only real options for line spacing were to type single-spaced with 12 points per line, or to insert a carriage return between line [sic] to double-space the text at 24 points per line.”

When Should You Double Space?

Double spacing has several advantages, especially during editing. Double-spaced work is easier to read and has more openings to either scribble notes (if the reviewer reads it on actual paper) or add comments (on a digital copy). Double spacing is commonly used in schoolwork and professional settings, and is a standard part of several grammar style books such as APA, Chicago, MLA and more.

How to Double Space in Word

For Most Versions

To double space all the text in desktop and mobile versions of Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 and Microsoft 365, use the following methods:

Use the Spacing Button

1. Go to the toolbar.
2. Click the button with four lines and up and down arrows.
3. Select the desired spacing option.

Use the “Design” Menu

1. Go to the “Design” menu.
2. Go to “Paragraph Spacing.”
3. Click “Double.”

Use “Format” Context Menu Option

1. Highlight the text you wish to double space.
2. Right-click the highlighted text.
3. Click “Format” and then “Paragraph.” (This may be labeled only as “Paragraph” in some versions” of Word.)
4. In the “Paragraph” window, go to the tab, “Indents and Spacing.”
5. Click the drop-down menu for line spacing.
6. Click “Double.”
7. Click “OK.”

Use Keyboard Shortcuts

1. Highlight your text.
2. Use Ctrl+1 (⌘ Command+1 for Mac) to single space.
3. Use Ctrl+2 (⌘ Command+2 for Mac) to double space.
4. Use Ctrl+5 (⌘ Command+2 for Mac) for 1.5 spacing.

Microsoft Office 365 (Microsoft Word 2016+)

Use “Paragraph”

1. Go to the “Home” tab.
2. Go to the “Paragraph” group.
3. Click “Option.”
4. Use the line spacing options for the desired spacing.

Microsoft Word 2007, 2010 and 2013

Use “Styles”

1. Click the “Home” tab.
2. Click “Styles.”
3. Click “Normal,” or the first option.
4. Select “modify” on the drop-down menu.
5. Under formatting, click double space.
6. Click OK.

Here’s a hint: If you don’t want to change the formatting of a “Normal” style, you can create a new style just for double spacing.

• Go to “Styles.”
• Click the “More options” button.
• Click “New Style” and name it something you’ll remember when you refer back to it and hit OK.
• Right-click on the newly created style and select “Modify.”
• Under formatting, click double space.
• Click “OK.”

Use “Page Layout”

1. Go to “Page Layout.”
2. Click the down arrow in the bottom right corner.
3. You’ll see this right next to the “Paragraph” window.
4. Go to “Indents and Spacing.”
5. Click the down arrow next to the box for line spacing.
6. Double click OK.

Double Spacing for Some Text

This strategy works for double-spacing specific parts of text in Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 and Microsoft 365.

Microsoft Word 2003

1. Select the text you’re going to double space.
2. Press Ctrl+A (or ⌘ Command+A on Mac) to select all the text..
3. Go to “Format” and go to “Paragraph.”
4. Click the “Line Spacing” drop-down box.
5. Pick your desired spacing option.
6. Click OK.

Double Spacing for a New Paragraph

This strategy works for Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 and Microsoft 365.

Use “Ctrl+Enter”

1. Press “Enter” for a new paragraph.
2. The default setting adds a space between the two graphs.
3. To go to the next line and not start a new paragraph, press “Ctrl+Enter.”

FAQs

To get the whole scoop, here are a few quick A’s for all your Q’s about double spacing.

What is the default spacing for lines in Word documents?

The default line spacing is 1.15.

How do you get single-spaced text?

Select it from the dropdown menu.

What does the “Exactly” setting do?

It sets an exact measurement of space between lines.

How is the “Exactly” setting measured?

It’s measured in points.

How big is a point?

A total of 72 points is equivalent to one inch.

What does the “Multiple” setting do?

It allows users to set the spacing higher than 2.0, such as triple spacing or beyond.

Does 2.0 count as double spaced?

Yes, 2.0 spacing is double spaced.

Does 1.5 count as double spaced?

No, but 1.5 spacing is useful in various circumstances. Depending on the font and size, a 1.5 space may be a better option for readability.

What does double spacing look like?

Double spacing looks like adding twice as much blank space between lines of text, resulting in spaced-out lines that are easier to read and preferred by many professionals and academics.

When I press enter, why is the space too big in Word?

When you’ve already enabled double spacing in a document, hitting “Enter” between lines adds a third line of space. It’s up to you if you like this style or not, although it’s not standard in most double-spaced documents.

Conclusion

Now you know the tricks and tips for how to double space in Word along with the best of them. Through these methods, you can ensure that your next presentation looks as professional as possible. You’re also giving your readers the most readable format possible. Don’t “space” out when it comes to this easy and useful function in Microsoft Word.

Last Update: Jan 03, 2023

This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested!

Asked by: Terence Mraz

Score: 4.6/5
(73 votes)

Double spacing increases the amount of space between lines of text and can be helpful to a teacher or editor in marking the document or adding comments. Double spacing a Word document will differ depending on which version of Word you have.

Is 2.0 double spaced?

A 2.0 value will mean double spacing. Remember that the double spacing will take place from whatever part in the text your cursor is positioned.

Is 2 double spaced in Word?

You can double-space all or part of a Word document. To double-space the whole document, go to Design > Paragraph Spacing, and choose Double. Tip: To double-space only part of the document, select the paragraphs you want to change, go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing, and choose 2.0.

What is double spaced?

transitive verb. : to type (text) leaving alternate lines blank. intransitive verb. : to type on every other line.

Is 1.5 or 2.0 double spaced?

A 2.0 value will mean double spacing. Remember that the double spacing will take place from whatever part in the text your cursor is positioned. Place your cursor on the very top of the page if you want the entire document to be double spaced.

23 related questions found

If you want your presentation to look super-neat, you should double-space it. It looks longer, but it’s also easier to read and more professional.

Don’t worry if you don’t know how to double space in Word. You can apply this format when you’re finished or at any time during the writing process.

Read on for a thorough guide with detailed steps for newer versions of Word and Microsoft Office 2007-2010.

But, first things first:

What is Double Space in Word?

Spacing is setting the distance between lines within paragraphs. Double spacing in Word refers to adding blank space between every row of text as wide as a full line between the different paragraphs.

As a result, you get a Word document that is doubled in size and easy to read. Teachers and editors prefer it because it leaves plenty of room for comments. 

When Should You Use Double-Spacing?

The main purpose of double-spacing is to improve text readability. Editors especially like double-spaced work because there is space for written suggestions (if it’s an actual paper document). It’s also easier to add comments on a digital document. 

Teachers read or skim a considerable amount of text. If the lines of the document are crammed, it’s more difficult to go through it. That’s why most universities favor double-spacing. Some of the writing styles that prefer double-spaced papers are: 

• APA
• Chicago/Turabian
• MLA

And, if you are planning to write a book, the standard is to double-space your novel. That said, you first need to check with the editor as requirements may vary. 

How to Double Space in Word?

Now that you know why many prefer double-spacing their text, let’s see how to do it.

Here are the various available double-spacing options:

Most Microsoft Word Versions

There are a few ways to double space your paragraphs or the whole text. You can apply the following methods in desktop and mobile versions of Microsoft Word from 2007 onwards, as well as Microsoft 365:

Use Line Spacing Button

This is a fairly easy option because it is a basic command on the Home tab of the Word Ribbon. Here are the steps:

1. Select the text you wish to double-space.
2. Go to the Home tab.
3. Go to Line and Paragraph Spacing (the button with four lines and arrows pointing up and down).
4. Click on the drop tag.
5. There are different choices but you should pick 2.0 from the drop-down list for double-spacing.

This option has one drawback. It double-spaces the whole text and paragraphs. You can’t select only a part of it.

You can find the Design tab at the top toolbar in Microsoft Word’s newer versions.  

1. Open the Word document you want to double-space. 
2. Go to the Design tab in the main menu. 
3. Under Document Formatting, click on the drop-down list in Paragraph Spacing.
4. Select Double.

If you are comfortable with using the right-click options, then this is the right method for you to apply double line spacing in Word:

1. First, select the text you want to apply the double space to.
2. Right-click on the selected text.
3. Select Format and then Paragraph (some Word versions label it Paragraph only).
4. In the Paragraph dialog box that will open next, go to the Indents and Spacing tab.
5. Open the Line Spacing drop-down menu.
6. Select Double.
7. Finally, press OK, and your document is double spaced in Word!

Microsoft Office 2007, 2010, and 2013

Microsoft Word 2007-2013 double space options can be slightly different from the newer versions.

Use Styles Toolkit

Every new blank document starts out using the Normal style with default paragraphs and character formatting. You can modify the line spacing within this style and change the whole document.

This is how you can do it:

1. Ensure that you are on the Home tab.

2. In the Style group on the Ribbon, go to Normal Style which is the first option.

3. Right-click on it. 

4. Select Modify and a dialogue box will appear.

5. Click on Format in the bottom right corner of the box. 

6. Select Paragraph from the drop-down list.  

7. A new dialogue box will appear. Go to Indents and Spacing. 

8. From the Line Spacing drow-down menu, choose Double.

9. Click the OK button twice.

If you don’t want to change the formatting of the Normal style (since it affects other styles based on it), you can create your own style just for double spacing in Word.

Follow these steps:

1. Go to Styles.

2. Select the More Options button. It’s the one in the lower-right corner of the Styles group. It’s the small down-pointing arrow.

3. Click on the New Style icon in the left corner and give it a recognizable name (Double-Spacing Style for instance) and press OK.

4. Right-click on the newly created style and pick Modify again.

5. In the Formatting section, click on the Double Space icon. It’s the seventh icon from the left in the middle section of the dialogue box.

6. The explanation beneath the text sample should read Line spacing: Double.

7. If everything looks right, click the OK button to confirm the changes.

Use Page Layout

There is another Word double space option from the Ribbon that’s worth mentioning.

1. Highlight your text.
2. Go to the Page Layout tab. 
3. Click the ‘Down’ arrow in the bottom right corner. 
4. Next, go to Indents and Spacing.
5. Click on the Line Spacing drop-down menu.
6. Select Double.

1. Click OK.

Other Alternatives

Use Keyboard Shortcuts

When you are in a hurry, double space in Microsoft Word can be done using key combinations on the keyboard. These shortcuts are very handy if you need instant formatting.

1. Select the paragraph or the whole text (Use Ctrl+A or ⌘Command+A for Mac).
2. Press Ctrl+1 (⌘ Command+1 for Mac) for single space.
3. Press Ctrl+2 (⌘ Command+2 for Mac) for double space.
4. Press Ctrl+5 (⌘ Command+5 for Mac) for 1.5 spacing.

Use Mini Toolbar

The Mini Toolbar is available in versions older than 2007. However, the extra option for double-spacing is not present in all Word versions.

But if you are using Microsoft 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365, here’s what you can do:

1. The Mini Toolbar pops up after you’ve selected a text.
2. It’s fainter at first but if you hover your mouse over it, the commands come into focus.
3. From the Line and Paragraph Spacing menu, select 2.0 for double-spacing.

Format Option

This option is available in most Microsoft Word versions. However, it’s easiest to find in Word 2003 because it is right on the menu bar. In Microsoft 2007, 2010, 2016, 2019, and 365 it is harder to find. There is no Format tab but all the items from the drop-down menu are placed in different groups on the Ribbon.

If you want to have a document double spaced in Word and you’re using Microsoft Word 2003, 2007, 2010, or 2013, follow these steps:

Microsoft Word 2003

1. Highlight the text you’re going to double-space.
2. Go to the Format tab, then to Paragraph.
3. Press the Line Spacing drop-down box.
4. Select Double.
5. Finish by clicking OK.

1. Select the text (Ctrl+A for the whole text) you want to be double-spaced.
2. Go to the Menus tab at the far right of the Ribbon. 
3. Click on the Format drop-down box. 
4. Select Paragraph and the dialogue window will open.
5. Click on the Line Spacing drop-down box.
6. Pick Double.
7. Click OK.

Wrap up

Now you know what double spaced format is and the tricks and tips for applying it to your text. This useful function of MS Word will take only a minute of your time.

So, next time you need a professional and readable layout for your presentation, remember the above options. 

24 points.
If you choose double spacing, that space between lines will be 24 points. However, if you want to fine tune things, you can also specify an exact point size to use.

Is 1.5 or 2.0 double spaced?

A 2.0 value will mean double spacing. Remember that the double spacing will take place from whatever part in the text your cursor is positioned.

Is 2.0 in Word double spacing?

To double-space the whole document, go to Design > Paragraph Spacing, and choose Double. Tip: To double-space only part of the document, select the paragraphs you want to change, go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing, and choose 2.0.

Is 24 pt double spaced?

Double-spacing — 24 points per line or 3 lines per inch — became the norm in much writing, in particular legal writing. On a standard letter-sized page, one left a one-inch top margin and a half-inch bottom margin, leaving 9.5 inches of usable space.

What is single and double line spacing?

Learn about our Editorial Process. Updated on July 21, 2019. Double spacing refers to the amount of space that shows between the individual lines of your paper. When a paper is single-spaced, there is very little white space between the typed lines, which means there is no room for marks or comments.

Is 1.5 the same as double spacing?

Go to the menu under Line spacing . Exactly is best—enter a fixed measurement. Single , 1.5 lines , and Double are equivalent to about 117%, 175%, and 233% line spacing, contrary to what their names suggest. Don’t use these—they miss the target zone of 120–145%.

How do I check for double spacing in Word?

Here’s how to do it.

1. Open Word’s Find and Replace dialog box (Ctrl+H).
2. Click More to show more options. Click More.
3. Select the Use wildcards check box.
4. In the Find what field, type: ([A-Za-z])( {2,9})
5. In the Replace with field, type: 1.
6. Click Find Next to find the next instance of multiple spaces between words.

Why is Word double spacing?

Each version of word uses the ‘normal’ style to set defaults on font sizes, page margins, paragraph spacing and more. After you install Word 2007 the default paragraph spacing is set to 10pt after a paragraph, meaning that when you type in any Word document you will appear to have double spacing.

How do you set up double spacing on pages?

To insert double spacing, you simply need to click the arrows until you increase to “2.0,” or click the box and type in “2.0.” Caution is not needed when altering lines. If you wish to see how your document looks with a certain alteration, simply do it.

What does double spaced mean on an essay?

Word forms: double-spaces, double-spacing, double-spaced. transitive verb. If you double-space something you are writing or typing, you include a full line of space between each line of writing. Double-space the entire list.

How many PT is 1.15 line spacing?

However, in Word 2007/2010 the default spacing for most Quick Style sets is 1.15 line spacing and 10 points after each paragraph.

How many pages is 7 pages double spaced?

Pages by Word Count

Word Count	Pages (single spaced)	Pages (double spaced)
2500 Words	5 Pages	10 Pages
3000 Words	6 Pages	12 Pages
3500 Words	7 Pages	14 Pages
4000 Words	8 Pages	16 Pages

What is line spacing Class 9?

Line spacing means the distance between the lines of text. Line spacing of 1 means line spacing will be as large as the size of one line, line spacing of 2 means the line spacing will be as large as the size of two lines, and so on.

What’s a line spacing?

Line spacing is the distance between lines of text. Loose line spacing can make text much more readable, while tight line spacing can fit more text in a space. To change the line spacing, select the lines you want to change.

What is line spacing short answer?

Line spacing determines the amount of vertical space between lines of text in a paragraph. By default, lines are single-spaced, meaning that the spacing accommodates the largest font in that line, plus a small amount of extra space.

How do I change line spacing to 14 pt?

Select the text you want to format. Click the Line and Paragraph Spacing command in the Paragraph group on the Home tab. Select the desired spacing option from the drop-down menu. From the drop-down menu, you can also select Line Spacing Options to open the Paragraph dialog box.

How do you measure spacing?

Change the line spacing in a portion of the document

1. Select the paragraphs you want to change.
2. Go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing.
3. Choose the number of line spaces you want or select Line Spacing Options, and then select the options you want under Spacing.

How many words are in a two page double spaced paper?

1 page is 500 words single spaced, 250 words double spaced. 2 pages is 1,000 words single spaced, 500 words double spaced. 3 pages is 1,500 words single spaced, 750 words double spaced. 4 pages is 2,000 words single spaced, 1,000 words double spaced.

How many pages double spaced is 500 words?

2 pages
Answer: 500 words is 1 page single-spaced or 2 pages double-spaced.

How do you do double spacing on WORD FOR IPAD?

Change spacing between lines

1. In your Word document, select the text you want to change.
2. On your Android tablet, tap the Home tab, and then tap the Paragraph icon.
3. Tap the Line Spacing menu and choose the line spacing you want, from 1.0 to 3.0.

What is ligatures in pages?

Some fonts include ligatures, a decorative joining of two characters to form a single typographic character. You can use ligatures in your document if the font you’re using supports them.