Indents are essential to give a touch of shape to a text. Well, with Word you can indent any type of paragraph , even if the text is in columns . Here we will explain the steps to indent Word paragraphs and structure your document.
Index( )
- In which situations is indentation added to the paragraphs of a text?
- How to set indentation automatically in new paragraphs?
- In the ‘Paragraph’ tabs
- From the ‘Format’ tab
- Using the TAB key
- Can I set the indentation to be applied automatically?
- How do you apply a first line indent in a Word paragraph?
- How is an indent in the Word mobile app?
In which situations is indentation added to the paragraphs of a text?
Indentation is placed in any type of writing, as long as it is at the beginning of a paragraph. However, in case you are not going to use indentation, then a blank line must be left between those paragraphs.
There are different types of indentation and depending on the type its use lies , so it is necessary to know what are the indentations that exist, since all these types of indentation can be applied when you work with Word. These indents are as follows:
- Normal indentation: This is the most used and usually goes at the beginning of the paragraphs as we have mentioned previously. It consists of five spaces on the space bar.
- Hanging or Frenchindentation : This type of indentation is often used when writing a bibliography or references and requires you to use the APA standards. This is the opposite of the previous one, since the first line of the paragraph or text remains intact, and the rest of the lines are left standing on the margin, that is, with the indentation. Its size is 0.6 cm.
- German or modernindentation: We also named this type of indentation before, in a few words it is like not using indentation and it is applied when the texts or paragraphs are separated by a blank line.
How to set indentation automatically in new paragraphs?
To configure the indents in the work you do using Word you can do it in different ways and here we will explain each of them:
In the ‘Paragraph’ tabs
If you already have a paragraph written, you have to shade it first, otherwise, just proceed to press the Paragraph tab at the top of the screen. Then click on the tab that indicates Indentation and space.
Now a configuration box opens, here you must indicate the options of your indentation , such as the type of indentation, the space size, among others. Once you finish setting your indentation parameters, proceed to press OK so that the changes are applied to your document.
From the ‘Format’ tab
To begin, you must select the paragraphs to which you will apply this indentation. Then click on the Design tab, then look for the tab that indicates Format and select it. This will open a configuration window where you can change the leading, spacing, and indentation.
In the Indentation section you must indicate the indentation spaces and the type of indentations that you will apply. Once the indentation is configured, press OK to save the changes and they are applied to the paragraphs you selected. Also, if you were not satisfied with the result, you can undo the changes with keyboard shortcuts .
Using the TAB key
This is perhaps the option most used by users of Word and other word processors. Well, to apply it, it is only necessary to place the mouse cursor over the beginning of the paragraph, then press the TAB key and thus add an indent to our paragraph.
This indentation cannot be applied automatically to the other paragraphs like the previous methods; however, it is much easier to access, since it involves a single key and not a series of options.
Can I set the indentation to be applied automatically?
When you indent a first paragraph, all subsequent paragraphs will also start with this type of indentation . However, if it is about paragraphs that have already been written then it is necessary to select them before applying any of the three methods that we explained previously.
This indentation is part of the text formatting, so if you copy the text, you must paste the formatted text to preserve the indentation. So any text that proceeds, will also inherit the same indentation automatically.
How do you apply a first line indent in a Word paragraph?
Only normal indentation and tab indentation are applied to the first line of the paragraph . Therefore, to apply this space, you only have to select the normal indent from the paragraph settings or you can press the TAB key while you have the cursor located at the beginning of said paragraph.
How is an indent in the Word mobile app?
To indent paragraphs using the Word mobile app , first select the paragraph or paragraphs where you will indent, then select the Home tab. Continuing, click on the Paragraph option and then on the Indentation section.
Here you must set the indentation settings you need and of the same, you can also select the type of indentation between French or normal. When you finish, click OK to apply the settings.
