How to Set First-Line and Hanging Indents in Word

An indent changes where a paragraph starts in Word. A first-line indent moves only the first line inward; a hanging indent leaves the first line farther left and moves the following lines inward.

This guide covers the desktop version of Word for Windows. Menu names and positions can differ between versions.

Set precise indentation in the Paragraph dialog

1. Place the cursor in one paragraph, or select several paragraphs. Open the Home → Paragraph dialog launcher or right-click and choose Paragraph.
2. On Indents and Spacing, choose First line under Special and enter the amount.
3. For a hanging indent, choose Hanging under Special and set the amount instead.
4. Choose OK and compare the start of the first line with the starts of the following lines.

For example, a first-line indent of 1 cm moves the first line inward while the next line starts at the paragraph’s existing left position. The displayed units depend on Word’s measurement settings. Hanging indents are useful for reference lists and descriptions that follow an entry label.

Adjust indentation with the ruler

If the ruler is hidden, turn on View → Ruler. Select the paragraph or paragraphs before moving a marker.

• Upper triangle: Adjusts the first line.
• Lower triangle: Adjusts the following lines for a hanging indent.
• Rectangle below the triangles: Moves the left-indentation markers together to reposition the paragraph.

Press Ctrl+Z if you move the wrong marker. For repeated exact amounts, use the Paragraph dialog instead of positioning the markers by eye. The options are explained in Microsoft's indentation and spacing reference.

Remove an indent

Set Special to None in the Paragraph dialog. To remove left and right paragraph indentation as well, set those amounts to zero. If the paragraph is still shifted after you remove its first-line setting, check the overall left indent. Manually typed spaces or tabs are separate characters and must be checked separately.