Formatting Issues

How to Reduce the Space Between Words in Microsoft Word

Elise Williams Sep 28, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to decrease the horizontal space between words in a Microsoft Word document.

How to Reduce the Space Between Words in Microsoft Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Adjusting document text formatting to fit more words on a line or improve the visual appearance of the spacing.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word lacks a native setting to independently change just the regular space width for left-aligned or right-aligned text.

Before you start

Select the specific paragraphs or sentences where you want to adjust the spacing before applying any font or formatting changes.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Condensed Character Spacing

Apply condensed spacing through the Font dialog box to pull all characters, including spaces, closer together.

While Word does not have a setting exclusively for the space character width in left- or right-aligned text, you can condense the overall character spacing. Note that this will affect the spacing between letters as well as the spaces between words.

Select the text

Highlight the text where you want to reduce the spacing.

Open the Font dialog box

Go to the 'Home' tab on the ribbon and click the small dialog box launcher arrow in the bottom-right corner of the 'Font' group, or simply press 'Ctrl+D' on your keyboard.

Navigate to the Advanced tab

In the Font dialog box that appears, click on the 'Advanced' tab at the top.

Apply condensed spacing

In the 'Spacing' drop-down menu, select 'Condensed'. Adjust the 'By' value to specify how much space to remove (e.g., 0.5 pt), then click 'OK' to apply the changes.

Solution 2

Insert a Unicode Thin Space

Manually insert a thinner space character (U+2009) between words for precise control without affecting letter spacing.

Solution 3

Change Paragraph Alignment

If you are experiencing unusually large, uneven spaces between words, it is likely due to justified alignment.

Easy Document Formatting

Seamlessly Adjust Text Spacing with WPS Writer

WPS Writer provides an intuitive and free solution for formatting your documents. You can easily adjust character spacing, modify paragraph layouts, and align your text to perfection, all within a highly compatible application.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer, open your document, and select the target text.
2. Access Font settings: Right-click the highlighted text and choose 'Font' from the context menu.
3. Go to Character Spacing: Click on the 'Character Spacing' tab in the dialog box.
4. Condense the text: Select 'Condensed' from the Spacing dropdown menu, adjust the point value, and click 'OK'.

Easily adjust character and paragraph spacingHighly compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsFree, lightweight, and fast-loading office suiteFamiliar user interface for quick adoption

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are there large gaps between words in my Word document?

Large gaps usually occur when the text alignment is set to 'Justify'. Word stretches the spaces between words so the text aligns flush with both the left and right margins. Changing the alignment to 'Align Left' will remove these unnatural gaps.

Can I change just the width of the spacebar space in Word?

No, Word does not offer a built-in feature to adjust only the width of the regular space character in left- or right-aligned text. You must either condense all character spacing or use specific Unicode space characters like the thin space (U+2009).

Does the font type affect the space between words?

Yes, the width of a regular space is determined by the font you are using. Switching to a different font may naturally reduce or increase the space between words in your entire document.

How do I find and replace all regular spaces with thin spaces?

You can use the Find and Replace feature (Ctrl+H). First, manually generate and copy a thin space character. Then, open the Replace menu, type a regular space in the 'Find what' box, paste the thin space into the 'Replace with' box, and click 'Replace All'.

Document & File Issues