How to Increase Spacing Between Bullet Points in Outlook
Question details
The user wants to adjust the spacing before, after, or between bullet points when composing an email, but cannot find the necessary paragraph formatting settings.
- Product
- Microsoft Outlook
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Composing an email containing a bulleted list in Outlook on the web.
- Observed behavior
- The Paragraph dialog launcher and advanced line-spacing options are unavailable or missing, preventing the user from customizing the layout of their bullet points.
Verify whether you are using Outlook on the web in your browser or the Outlook desktop application, as their text formatting capabilities differ significantly.
Draft the Email in Outlook Desktop or Microsoft Word
Since Outlook on the web lacks advanced paragraph formatting, the best solution is to use the desktop version of Outlook or draft your email in a word processor like Word and paste it.
Outlook on the web is designed as a streamlined email client and intentionally omits the comprehensive rich-text formatting tools found in desktop applications. To adjust spacing, you must use an environment that supports full paragraph dialog controls.
Launch the Outlook desktop application on your computer and start a new email, or open a blank document in Microsoft Word.
Type out your bulleted list. Click and drag your cursor to highlight all the bullet points you wish to adjust.
Right-click the highlighted text and select 'Paragraph' from the context menu, or navigate to the 'Format Text' tab in Outlook (or 'Home' tab in Word) and click the small Paragraph dialog launcher arrow in the bottom right corner of the Paragraph group.
In the Paragraph dialog box, locate the 'Spacing' section. Increase the 'Before' or 'After' point values, or change the 'Line spacing' dropdown to 1.5 lines or Double, then click 'OK'.
If you drafted the text in Word, copy the newly formatted list and paste it directly into your Outlook on the web email draft. The spacing formatting will be retained.
Draft Perfectly Formatted Emails with WPS Office
If you need advanced formatting tools without the limitations of web-based email clients, draft your content in WPS Writer. It is a highly compatible, free alternative to Microsoft Word that lets you adjust bullet spacing effortlessly before pasting it seamlessly into your email.
- 1. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and create a new blank Writer document to draft your email.
- 2. Format the bullet points: Highlight your list, right-click, select 'Paragraph', and adjust the spacing before or after to your desired amount.
- 3. Copy and paste into your email: Copy the formatted text and paste it into Outlook on the web. Your customized bullet spacing will carry over perfectly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I change line spacing in Outlook on the web?
Outlook on the web is designed as a simplified email client for quick communication. It lacks the comprehensive rich-text formatting tools found in desktop applications, which includes advanced paragraph and line spacing settings.
Can I use keyboard shortcuts to increase spacing in Outlook?
In desktop versions of Outlook and Word, you can select the text and press Ctrl+2 for double spacing, or Ctrl+5 for 1.5-line spacing. However, these standard Office shortcuts generally do not function for text formatting within Outlook on the web.
How do I remove the space between bullet points in Outlook desktop?
Highlight your bulleted list, open the Paragraph dialog box, and check the box that says 'Don't add space between paragraphs of the same style.' Click OK to instantly tighten the list.
