If you were not aware, both bullets and numbers are indented 0.25″ from the left margin in a list and the text is indented 0.5o” from your left margin.
Now this is the default setting in word, but, you can change the position of these indents in a list! This can really come in handy at times. Say you receive a document that has a list that has been modified many times. That appearance of that list cab be very altered. Also, this can come in handy should you feel the need to change your indents or spacing. Let’s face t, there is no hard and fast rule that you must always use the Word default setting. So knowing how to make these changes can help you quite a bit!
Follow the steps below to learn how:
- To change the indents in your list, select your list and then right-click Adjusts List Indents from the resulting menu.
Once you do that you will see the Adjust List Indents window:
- Now you will be presented with several options. First you will see the Bullet position. Using the arrows on the right, you can change the amount of the indentation of the bullet or number from your left margin.
- Next, is Text indent. The arrows on the right-hand side can be used to change the amount that text is indented from the left-hand margin. The screenshot below shows the indent options of a numbered list that has been changed to 0.15″ and 0.75″.
- Your third option in the Adjust List Indents is Follow bullet (or number) with.
- The default option is Tab character, which will add a Tab to the text indentation. To the right is a drop-down arrow. Once you click the arrow you will see a list of three selections.
- The Space option will remove the Tab and insert a single space between your button/number and your text.
- The Nothing option will remove all space between your bullet/number and your text.
- Once you have made your selections, simply click OK to apply them.
You can also change the spacing on an individual list item by selection just that item and then from the Adjust Line Indents window, make any changes you would like.
I am certain that this information will definitely make your lists a lot easier and a lot more professional looking.