Word with double space

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.

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Double Space Lines in Microsoft Word Documents

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated January 11, 2023

Applies to: Microsoft^® Word^® 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 365 (Windows)

You can double space in Word using the Ribbon, the Paragraph dialog box, a keyboard shortcut or by modifying a style. If you double space a paragraph, you are setting the line spacing of the paragraph to 2.0. Since double spacing is a paragraph format, it’s important to understand that a paragraph in Word is anything with a hard return after it (you pressed Enter or Return).

A paragraph can include text or an inline picture or shape. Line spacing is applied within a paragraph which is different from space above and below a paragraph. To see where paragraphs have been created in a Word document, it’s helpful to turn on Show/Hide ¶ on the Home tab in the Ribbon.

Note that double space or 2.0 spacing is calculated by Word based on the font size of the selected text.

In this article, we’ll review 4 ways to double space in Word:

1. Use commands in the Ribbon
2. Use the Paragraph dialog box
3. Use a keyboard shortcut
4. Modify the Normal style (or another style)

Recommended article: How to Add or Remove Page Breaks in Microsoft Word

You should follow best practices in your Microsoft Word documents if you want to avoid issues with line spacing:

• Use wordwrapping when entering text (don’t press Enter until you reach the end of a paragraph).
• Delete blank paragraphs (often created when users press Enter twice after paragraphs).

Double space using the Ribbon

You can double space using two different tabs in the Ribbon – the Home tab or the Design tab.

To double space a Word document using the Design tab in the Ribbon:

1. Click in the Word document.
2. Click the Design tab in the Ribbon.
3. Click Paragraph Spacing in the Document Formatting group. A drop-down menu appears.
4. Select Double. This will change the entire document to double spacing.

The Paragraph Spacing command appears in the Design tab in the Ribbon as follows:

To double space specific paragraphs using the Home tab in the Ribbon in Word 2016 and later versions:

1. Select the paragraph(s) that you want to double space. If you want to select all paragraphs, press Ctrl + A.
2. Click the Home tab in the Ribbon and then click Line and Paragraph Spacing in the Paragraph group. A drop-down menu appears.
3. Click 2.0 to double space.

The Line and Paragraph Spacing button appears as follows in newer versions of Word (2016 and later):

The Line and Paragraph Spacing drop-down menu offers the following options:

To double space specific paragraphs using the Home tab in the Ribbon in Word 2013:

1. Select the paragraph(s) you want to double space. If you want to select all paragraphs, press Ctrl + A.
2. Click the Home tab in the Ribbon and then click Double in the Paragraph group.

Line spacing buttons appear as follows in Word 2010 or 2013:

Double space using the Paragraph dialog box

To double space one or more paragraphs using the Paragraph dialog box:

1. Select the paragraph(s) you want to double space. If you want to select all paragraphs, press Ctrl + A.
2. Right-click and select Paragraph from the drop-down menu. The Paragraph dialog box appears.
3. Click the Indents and Spacing tab if necessary.
4. From the Line spacing drop-down menu, select Double.
5. Click OK.

Below is the Paragraph dialog box:

Double space using a keyboard shortcut

To use a keyboard shortcut to double space one or more paragraphs in a Word document:

1. Select the paragraph(s) you want to double space. If you want to select all paragraphs, press Ctrl + A.
2. Press Ctrl + 2 to double space.

If you want to change a paragraph back to single spacing, press Ctrl + 1 to single space.

Double space by modifying the Normal style

When you create a new blank document, it starts out using the Normal style which contains default paragraph and character formatting. You can modify line spacing in the Normal style (as long as another style has not been used for standard paragraphs) and change your entire document. If manual line spacing has been applied to one or more paragraph(s), this overrides the Normal style.

To double space a Word document by modifying the Normal style:

1. Click in a paragraph using the Normal style.
2. Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
3. In the Styles group, right-click Normal and select Modify from the drop-down menu. A dialog box appears.
4. Click Format at the bottom left of the dialog box. A drop-down menu appears.
5. Click Paragraph. The Paragraph dialog box appears.
6. Click the Indents and Spacing tab if necessary.
7. From the Line spacing drop-down menu, select Double.
8. Click OK.
9. Ensure that Only in this document is selected.
10. Click OK.

Below is the Modify Style dialog box:

You may encounter issues if you modify spacing in the Normal style since other styles are based on this style by default. Cells in tables would likely be affected and so would other styles that are based on the Normal style (such as Header, Footer and Heading styles). Paragraphs using these styles would then also be double spaced (unless spacing has been specifically modified in these styles). If you are comfortable using styles, you could create your own style for double spaced paragraphs or use and modify a different Word style to avoid this issue.

You can right-click other styles and modify the spacing in the same way.

This article was first published on October 24, 2019 and has been updated for clarity and content.

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Some of the formatting requirements that your school or job may want for your documents will involve things like the margin size and spacing.

A common setting that many people need to use involves making the amount of space between their lines larger.

Our tutorial below will show you how to double space in Word, even if you have already written the document and it is currently using single spacing, or some other line spacing size.

How to Change Spacing in Word 2013 to Double Spacing

1. Open your document in Word.
2. Click Home.
3. Click the Line and Paragraph Spacing button, then click 2.0.

Our article continues below with additional information on how to double space in Word 2013, including pictures of these steps.

Microsoft Word includes a “Normal” template that has some default formatting options. It’s often necessary to change these options for a document, so you may need to learn how to double space in Word 2013.

There are a couple of options that can help to make a paper created in Microsoft Word 2013 easier to read, and one of those options is the amount of spacing between lines.

If you are creating your document for school or for your work, then it is very possible that the person reading it will also be reading many other papers at the same time.

Individuals in this situation will often develop preferences that make this task easier, and double spacing is something that can be very important to them.

You can configure your document with double-spacing with just a few simple mouse clicks in Word 2013. Follow our steps below to learn how.

If you also work in Google Docs a lot then you might need to know how to remove space between paragraphs in Google Docs as well.

How Do You Double Space in Word 2013? (Guide with Pictures)

This article will assume that you have not already started typing the document. If the document already exists with single spacing, then you will need to select the entire document before you apply double spacing.

You can do this by clicking anywhere inside the document, then pressing Ctrl + A on your keyboard.

Any text that you type into the document now will have double spaced lines.

Now that you know how to double space in Microsoft Word you will be able to adjust your document spacing whenever you are working with a new document or need to update an existing one.

You can apply double spacing to an existing whole document by clicking anywhere inside the document, pressing Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select everything, then selecting the 2.0 option from the Paragraph and Line Spacing dropdown.

How to Double Space By Default in Microsoft Word

If you find that you are changing line spacing on every document that you create, then you might want a faster way to apply the double-space setting.

Perhaps the easiest way to do this is by changing the default line spacing setting.

If you would like to use double spacing as the default for future new documents then you can click the small button at the bottom-right of the Paragraph section in the ribbon. You can then set the line spacing on that menu and click the Set as Default button.

Specifically, these steps are:

1. Select the Home tab.
2. Click the Paragraph Settings button at the bottom-right of the Paragraph group in the ribbon.
3. Choose the Line spacing drop down menu in the Paragraph dialog box and choose the Double option.
4. Click the Set as Default button.

More Information on Line Spacing in a Microsoft Word Document

• Is 2.0 double spaced or is 1.5 double spaced? – You may be asking yourself this question when you are looking at the different line spacing settings on the line and paragraph spacing menu. If you need to double space your Word document then you will want to select the 2.0 option.
• Line spacing in Word will change for future content that you type into the document after you make the line spacing adjustment. However, if you need to change line spacing for existing content then you will need to select that content first before you double space or use one of the other line spacing options. For example, you could press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select the whole document, then choose the double space option.
• Some of the other line spacing options include 1.0, 1.15, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0.
• If you click the Layout tab at the top of the window (or Page Layout tab in some older versions of Microsoft Word) then you will see another Paragraph section with more spacing options. This lets you choose values for indent spacing, as well as the spacing that appears before and after your paragraphs.

Are you editing an existing document, or have you copied and pasted text from other locations? This type of information can often have odd formatting that can be difficult to remove. Learn how to clear all formatting in Word 2013 to make all of your text look the same.

Frequently Asked Questions About Double Line Spacing in Microsoft Word

Additional Sources

How skilled are you at text formatting? If you are using Word for business or school purposes, you should know how to format your document properly. Content does matter, but the way it is presented in a document is equally important. A well formatted document is easier for reading and reviewing. If you need to send your Word document to your boss or teacher for a review, double check if your text was formatted well. Here you will learn how to double space in Word and have your text presented in a more visible way.

What do you mean by double spaced?

Double space refers to the text formatting option in Microsoft Word, that actually makes space between text lines. For instance, if you want to use the printed version of a Word document, it would be better to make wider space between lines so you write comments under specific part of the text. Also, when there is double space between the lines, your text will be easier to read.

How do you double space words in Word?

For Word 2007 and 2010 users

In the Styles section, right-click with your mouse on the Normal style first.

Next step is to open the Modify option and choose the Double space button and then click OK.

By following these steps you will set double space for the whole document. If you want to format only the part of Word document, first select the text you want to format. Then in the Paragraph section, choose Line Spacing. Once you click on 2.0 option the selected text will have double space.

Note: first set up spacing and then write in a document, so the changes will apply to the whole document. If you want to double space in Word document that already has some text, make sure you have selected the whole document. Only in that way the new settings will be applied to the previously written text.

For 2013 users as well

Click on the Design tab first, which is next to the Insert tab.

Click on the drop-down menu called Paragraph spacing and choose Double option.

Again, if you want to apply these settings to specific paragraphs of the text, first select the part of the text and then do the rest.

How do you double space between paragraphs?

If you want to change spacing between paragraphs, you can use the following guidelines. Have in mind that if you want to apply these settings to one paragraph only, you need to select that paragraph first.

For Word 2007, 2010 users:

Go to the Page Layout tab and in the Paragraph section find Spacing options. You have two fields to fill in, before– if you want to change default spacing before a paragraph and after it.

For Word 2016, 2013 users:

 Again, go to the Design tab and Paragraph Spacing. Then click on the Custom Paragraph Spacing and the window will pop up (see the image below).

In the Paragraph spacing section, fill in the fields “before” and “after”.

Double space between lines in Word

For Word 2007, 2010 users:

If you want to put double space for the whole text, read the first guide above. To double space between lines, select the part of the text and go to Paragraph tab. Click on Line Spacing to put double space between lines.

For Word 2016, 2013 users:

Select the part of the text and then go to Line and paragraph spacing tab. In paragraph spacing and choose 2.0.

How to cancel double space in Word

If you change your mind and want to cancel double space in Word, the settings are the same as explained above. Depending on your Word version, go to line spacing and instead of double (2.0) select single spacing (1.0).

This guide on how to double space in Word is just one tip for using text formatting settings to make your document look professional. Microsoft Word offers a wide range of formatting options and it is only a matter of time and practice when you will adopt all these skills.

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.

earning how to double space in Word is a vital skill if you’re planning to send your writing to an editor, publication, or academic journal. As well as making some documents easier to read, double spacing lets editors easily add comments and editing marks above your text. We’ll be walking you through double spacing in Word and Word Online today, as well as explaining what it is and when you should use it. 

What does double spaced mean?

A “Double spaced” document is a text with approximately twice the amount of vertical space between lines when compared to a standard document. In other words, there’s a full blank line between each row of text that an editor can write in. In typography, this space between lines is called “leading”.

Double spacing is a practice that typists have used since the advent of typewriters in the 19th century. In fact, double-spaced documents used to be the standard due to the limitations of typewriters. It was only in the mid-20th century that publications standardized single spacing — primarily to cut the costs of mass printed material.

When you should use double spacing in Word

It’s a good idea to use double spacing in situations where you expect somebody to edit or comment on your text in a professional capacity. This includes when writing an academic piece or essay, sending a novel to an agent or editor, or submitting content to a magazine. Legal documents are also typically doubled spaced.

However, you can also double space in Word if you’re struggling to focus on your text. It’s worth noting, though, that this may not always help. Some studies suggest that the additional spacing between lines can make it easier for readers to lose their place in a text, rather than harder.

Whatever spacing you choose, the important part is that it is consistent. A text with randomly differing leading is likely to confuse the reader’s eyes. It may be acceptable to use double spacing for quote blocks within a text, but different line spacing per chapter or section is almost always a bad idea.

With all that said, let’s get into how to do double spacing in Word:

How to Double Space in Word Online

If you’re sending your document off to a publication, page numbers are often a requirement, too. This is so editors or researchers can easily refer to a part of the text. You can read our full guide on how to add and modify page numbers in Word here.

You may also find it necessary to remove or clear formatting in Word to make your piece consistent. You can do so quickly by following the linked guide. 

Enabling the double space in Word document helps you to easily read, edit, and make notes.

Method 1: Enable double space for the whole Word document

There are the following steps to enable double space for whole Word document —

Step 1: Open the Word document in which you want to enable double space for the document.

Step 2: Select the whole document using Ctrl+A key from the keyboard.

Step 3: Go to the Home tab on the Ribbon and click on the Line and Paragraph Spacing icon in the Paragraph group.

Step 4: Once you click on the Line and Paragraph Spacing icon, a pop-up window appears on the screen. Select the spacing number according to your requirement.

Now, you can see that double spacing is added in your Word document.

Note 1: Using the above-mentioned steps, you can enable double space in Microsoft Word 2007 and Microsoft Word 2010.

Note 2: You can also press Ctrl+2 key from the keyboard to enable double space and press Ctrl +1 key from the keyboard to enable the single space in the Word document.

Method: 2 Enable double space in a paragraph

Follow the below easiest steps to enable double spacing in Word document —

Step 1: Open the Word document.

Step 2: Highlight or select the paragraph in which you want to enable the double spacing.

Step 3: Right-click on the selected paragraph, a list of options will appears on the screen. Click on the paragraph option on this list.

Step 4: A Paragraph dialog box will appear on the screen. Go to the spacing tab and click double from the Line spacing drop-down menu and click on the OK button, as shown in the screenshot below.

Once you did all steps, you can see that double spacing is enabled in the selected paragraph.

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