When a document is structured and has a good statement in general, it is easy for the reader to navigate in the text, which facilitates the reading itself. When a document is pleasant to read, this means that the text is well formatted. There are quite a few formatting elements in Word, but in this article the only one will be touched - the paragraph. It is also called the red line, which will be periodically done in this text.
Unfortunately, few people know how paragraphs are made in Word, or they know, but they’re doing it wrong anyway. The article will consider all three methods: using the ruler, tabs and the paragraph menu. They fulfill the same role, but the approach to each of them is different. Therefore, read the article to the end to find a way for yourself.
Paragraph using a ruler
As mentioned above, paragraphs in Word can be done in three ways. Now the first of them will be considered - using the ruler. This method is quite easy to use, but still it is not popular enough. Most likely, this is due to its inaccuracy - the length of the paragraph is determined by eye, but if it does not matter to you, then you can safely use it.
So, for starters, you need to figure out where that line is. The fact is that sometimes by default it is removed and it must be turned on. To do this, follow three simple steps:
- Go to the "View" tab in the program.
- Find the area called "Show."
- Check the box next to "Ruler."
If you use Word 2003 version, then you need to click "View" and select "Ruler" in the list.
Defining sliders on a ruler
So, how to turn on the ruler, it has now become clear, but few people know how to use it. In order to correctly make paragraphs in Word, you should define in detail each slider on it.
As you might guess, you need to use the ruler, which is located on top. It has only 4 sliders - 1 on the left, 3 on the right. We are interested in those sliders that are located on the right side. They can be seen in the picture below.
Let's start from the bottom. A slider in the form of a small rectangle affects the indentation of all text from the left edge. It is recommended that you check it yourself right now by moving it to the left or right. Only thus do not forget to select all the text or the necessary part of the text.
The middle slider is responsible for the protrusion. This means that if you shift it to the right, all lines, except the first, in the paragraph will be shifted. You can also check this yourself.
Making a paragraph using a ruler
And so we got to the top slider. That is what we need. By moving it, you will indent the first line of the paragraph - determine the size of the red line. You can move the paragraph both to the right and to the left, depending on your preference.
As mentioned above, this method does not accurately determine the red line. Using the ruler, you can only approximately set the indentation. But for clarity, the markings are marked on it. Each digit is equal to one centimeter.
Tab paragraph
The first way, as paragraphs are made in Word, we have already considered, now we move on to the next - tabulation.
This method, like the previous one, does not give one hundred percent accuracy and largely loses the line, but it is impossible not to mention it. With it, you can instantly indent from the left edge, thereby indicating a red line. Well, now let's get down to business.
Tabulation is carried out by pressing the corresponding key - TAB. You can click it and see for yourself. Roughly speaking, when pressed, one big space is put. But if you put such a space before the first line of the paragraph, then visually it will look like a red line.
As for the minuses of this method, it is the only one, but quite determining. If the text you typed is quite voluminous, then it will not work to make a red line in each paragraph at once. We will have to do this methodically in each of them. Therefore, it is easier to use the ruler or the "Paragraph" menu, which we will talk about now.
Paragraph using the paragraph menu
Now we will make a paragraph in the 2007 Word release, but this does not mean that this method is not suitable for other versions, only some differences can be observed.
So, for starters, we need to get to the "Paragraph" menu itself. You can do this in several ways by clicking on the corresponding icon, the location of which you can see in the picture below.
Or by clicking RMB on the text and selecting the “Paragraph” item in the menu.
In the "Paragraph" menu, on the first tab, there is a field called "Indent", which is what you need. Pay attention to the drop-down list above which is written "first line:". By clicking on it, the selection options will appear: "(no)", "indent" and "ledge". If you select no, nothing will happen, the ledge will shift all the lines except the first in the paragraph, but the indent will shift the first line, which is what we need. Select it and enter your value in the field on the right. Thus, you can precisely set the parameters of the red line.
Change the spacing between paragraphs
The paragraph spacing in Word is done in the same paragraph menu, so don't rush to leave it. Pay attention to the "Interval" field, more precisely - to the left of it. There are two counters: “Before” and “After”. By specifying values, you determine the amount of space between paragraphs.
By the way, all of the above methods 100% make a paragraph in the "Word" 2010. The interval between paragraphs is set exactly the same.