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How to Remove Extra Paragraph Spacing and Set Single Line Spacing in Word
Question details
The user needs to eliminate unwanted blank spaces between lines and paragraphs in their document and set the standard spacing to single.
- Product
- Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Formatting document layout and modifying the default template to ensure consistent spacing for new documents.
- Observed behavior
- The document displays extra blank space between lines of text caused by paragraph before/after spacing settings. In some cases, setting the spacing as default saves to the current document instead of the global Normal.dotm template.
Highlight the specific text you want to format before applying changes, and decide whether you want the spacing adjusted for just this document or all future documents.
Adjust Paragraph Spacing via the Home Tab and Set as Default
Use the Paragraph dialog box to manually zero out extra spacing and apply it as the default for new documents.
Extra spacing is often caused by 'Spacing Before' or 'Spacing After' settings rather than the standard line spacing. Adjusting these values to zero will eliminate the unwanted gaps.
Highlight the text containing the extra spacing, or press Ctrl+A on your keyboard to select the entire document.
Navigate to the 'Home' tab on the ribbon. Click the dialog box launcher (the small arrow icon) located in the bottom-right corner of the Paragraph group.
In the Paragraph dialog box, locate the 'Spacing' section. Change both the 'Before' and 'After' fields to 0 pt.
In the same section, click the 'Line spacing' drop-down menu and select 'Single'.
To make this the permanent default, click the 'Set As Default' button at the bottom. Choose 'All documents based on the Normal.dotm template' and click OK.
Modify the Paragraph Style for Long-Term Consistency
Change the spacing settings directly within the Styles menu to prevent extra spacing when typing new paragraphs.
Easily Manage Paragraph Spacing in WPS Writer
WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface to quickly adjust line and paragraph spacing without complex template configurations. You can effortlessly set your preferred spacing as the default for all future documents.
- 1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document you wish to format.
- 2. Select the text: Highlight the paragraphs where you want to remove the extra spacing.
- 3. Access paragraph settings: Right-click on the selected text and choose 'Paragraph' from the context menu.
- 4. Modify spacing: Under the Spacing section, set both 'Before' and 'After' to 0 pt, and select 'Single' from the Line Spacing dropdown.
- 5. Apply and set default: Click 'Set as Default' if you want this applied to new documents, then click OK to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn't my default line spacing save to the Normal.dotm template?
If Word fails to save changes to the Normal.dotm template, it might be due to add-in conflicts, strict folder permissions, or issues recognizing the template if the document is being synced via OneDrive. Try saving a blank document locally and applying the default settings from there.
What is the difference between line spacing and paragraph spacing?
Line spacing controls the vertical space between individual lines of text within a single paragraph. Paragraph spacing controls the extra blank space added automatically before or after an entire paragraph when you press the Enter key.
How do I stop Word from adding space between paragraphs of the same style?
Open the Paragraph dialog box from the Home tab, navigate to the Spacing section, and check the box that says 'Don't add space between paragraphs of the same style'. Click OK to apply.
