How To Fix Justified Text Spacing in Microsoft Word (FAST & EASY)
Learn how to fix justified text spacing in Microsoft Word. Discover simple solutions to remove large gaps caused by line breaks and condense font spacing.
You'll learn how to fix the big ugly spaces that can happen when you justify text in Microsoft Word. We'll cover two main problems, and how to easily fix the spacing for each one. By the end of this video, those weird spaces in your text in MS Word will be a thing of the past!
Watch next:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woDffrabfB0
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:10 What we'll cover
0:20 Problem 1: Large spaces at ends of paragraphs
0:47 Show and remove newlines manually
1:15 Permanent fix for paragraph end spaces
2:02 Subscribe
2:12 Problem 2: Fix spacing on any text
2:22 Set text Spacing to Condensed
2:55 Outro
- Identify and delete manual line breaks causing gaps by clicking the Paragraph icon on the Home tab to reveal hidden formatting characters.
- Permanently fix justified spacing gaps by going to File > Options > Advanced, scrolling to Layout Options, and checking "Don't expand character spaces on a line that ends with SHIFT + RETURN".
- Condense spacing on any text by selecting it, opening Font settings (
Ctrl+Don Windows,Cmd+Don Mac), and changing the Spacing dropdown to Condensed in the Advanced tab. - Watch the next tutorial to continue leveling up your Microsoft Word skills.
If you have ever set your text alignment to "Justify" in Microsoft Word, you have likely encountered big, ugly gaps between your words. These weird spacing issues can make a professional document look messy and unpolished.
Fortunately, fixing justified text spacing in MS Word is fast and easy. Depending on what is causing your spacing issues, there are two main problems you might be facing. Below, you will learn exactly how to identify the cause and apply the right fix to make those strange spaces a thing of the past.
Problem 1: Large Spaces at the Ends of Paragraphs
When your text alignment is set to Justify, you might notice drastically large spaces specifically in the lines at the ends of your paragraphs.
The most common culprit for this issue is an invisible line break (also known as a soft return). When a line ends with a manual line break, created by pressing + , it confuses Microsoft Word. The software tries to stretch the line out to meet the margins, resulting in weird, over-extended spacing.
FAQ
Quick answers to the questions people usually ask about this topic.
Why does Microsoft Word add large gaps between words when text is justified?
Why does Microsoft Word add large gaps between words when text is justified?
These gaps are usually caused by an invisible manual line break, also known as a soft return. When a line ends with this break, Word's Justify alignment gets confused and tries to stretch the text all the way across the margins, resulting in large, unnatural spaces.
What is a soft return or manual line break?
What is a soft return or manual line break?
A soft return is a formatting mark created when you press Shift + Enter. It drops your cursor to a new line without starting a completely new paragraph. However, it is the primary culprit behind over-extended text spacing when using justified alignment.
How do I reveal hidden formatting symbols like the new line character?
How do I reveal hidden formatting symbols like the new line character?
Navigate to the Home tab in the Microsoft Word ribbon and click the Paragraph icon (the pilcrow symbol that looks like a backwards P). This reveals hidden formatting data, allowing you to quickly spot and delete the problematic manual line breaks that look like small curved arrows.
How can I apply the layout spacing fix to all new Word documents?
How can I apply the layout spacing fix to all new Word documents?
To automatically prevent paragraph end spacing issues in future files, go to File, select Options, and click the Advanced tab. Scroll down to Layout Options, check "Don't expand character spaces on a line that ends with SHIFT + RETURN", and then select "All new documents" from the dropdown menu before clicking OK.
What is the keyboard shortcut to open the Font settings menu?
What is the keyboard shortcut to open the Font settings menu?
If you want to quickly condense your text spacing without digging through the ribbon menus, you can highlight your target text and press Ctrl + D on Windows or Cmd + D on a Mac to open the Font settings dialog box.
Where can I find more Microsoft Word tutorials?
Where can I find more Microsoft Word tutorials?
If you are ready to continue improving your document formatting skills and fix other common MS Word problems, you can check out this recommended video guide: Watch next tutorial.
