Formatting Issues

How to Remove Extra Blank Paragraphs Between Word Bullet Points

Olivia Miller Oct 12, 2026 870 views

Question details

Remove unwanted spacing or blank paragraphs that appear between items in a bulleted list.

How to Remove Extra Blank Paragraphs Between Word Bullet Points

Product: Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting a document where bullet points appear with too much vertical space or blank lines between them.
Observed behavior: Extra space or blank paragraphs appear between list items due to double pressing Enter, automatic list formatting, or style spacing settings.

Before you start

Enable the 'Show/Hide ¶' formatting marks feature on the Home tab to easily distinguish between actual blank paragraphs and built-in paragraph spacing.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust Paragraph Spacing Settings

Modify the paragraph properties to eliminate default spacing added after each list item.

Often, the extra space is not an actual blank paragraph, but paragraph spacing applied by the document's style settings. Adjusting the Space After setting resolves this seamlessly.

Select the bulleted list

Highlight the entire bulleted list that contains the unwanted extra spacing.

Open Paragraph settings

Right-click the selected text and choose 'Paragraph' from the context menu, or click the dialog box launcher in the Paragraph group on the Home tab.

Remove spacing between paragraphs

In the Spacing section, check the box for 'Don't add space between paragraphs of the same style'. Alternatively, set the 'After' spacing to 0 pt.

Apply changes

Click 'OK' to save the settings and remove the extra space between your bullets.

Consistent Formatting: Using the built-in 'List Bullet' style can help maintain consistent list formatting without manual adjustments.

Solution 2

Use Keyboard Shortcuts to End Lists Properly

Prevent the creation of blank paragraphs by ending the list correctly instead of pressing Enter twice.

Easily Manage Paragraph Spacing with WPS Writer

WPS Writer provides intuitive paragraph formatting tools that make managing lists, adjusting spacing, and removing blank paragraphs effortless and efficient.

1. Select your list: Highlight the bullet points that have extra spacing.
2. Access Paragraph formatting: Right-click and select 'Paragraph' from the menu.
3. Adjust spacing settings: Check 'Don't add space between paragraphs of the same style' or set 'Space After' to 0, then click OK.

Precise control over paragraph spacing and list stylesFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx, .doc) formatsFree, lightweight, and easy-to-use Office alternative

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word automatically add a space between my bullet points?

Word often applies a default paragraph style that includes 'Space After' formatting. When you create a list, this spacing is applied to every bullet point, resulting in visible gaps.

How do I view hidden blank paragraphs in my document?

Click the 'Show/Hide ¶' button (the pilcrow icon) located in the Paragraph group on the Home tab. This reveals hidden formatting marks, allowing you to see if the gaps are caused by blank paragraphs or spacing settings.

Is it better to use Styles instead of manual formatting for lists?

Yes, applying a consistent style, such as the built-in 'List Bullet' style, is recommended. It prevents inconsistent spacing and avoids issues caused by the 'AutoFormat As You Type' feature.

Document & File Issues