How to put a hanging indent in google docs

There are ways to manually create a hanging indent, but you should always go for the built-in tool if it's available* (and it usually is). You'll want to look for paragraph settings relating to indentation.

In Google Docs, highlight your citation(s), then go to Format > Align & indent > Indentation options.

How to put a hanging indent in google docs

In the Indentation options window that pops up, select "hanging" under Special Indent. Make sure it says "0.5" in the field next to that dropdown, then click Apply.

How to put a hanging indent in google docs

Voila! You should have a lovely (or several lovely) citation(s) with the indentation.


*Why?

  • It's ultimately faster -- the tool can do all your citations at once.
  • It's more accurate, because it takes care of the alignment for you.
  • If you have to edit your citation, you won't have to redo any of the line breaks -- your citation will grow/shrink but still flow in the hanging indent shape.

A hanging indent is an easy way to make your documents look more professional. Google Docs has built in functionality to create this.

What is a Hanging Indent?

A hanging indent is a type of indentation where the first line of a paragraph is not indented, but subsequent lines in the same paragraph are indented.

Here is an example of what a Hanging Indent looks like:

How to put a hanging indent in google docs

In Google Docs, you can create a hanging indent by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Select the text you want to format. You can do this by triple-clicking the paragraph.

How to put a hanging indent in google docs

Step 2: Click the "Format" menu. Then choose "Align and Indent". Then choose "Indentation options."

How to put a hanging indent in google docs

Step 3: From this menu, you can choose "Hanging." If you want, you can specify by how much you want to indent. For this tutorial, I've left that value at the default value of 0.5.

How to put a hanging indent in google docs

And presto! You have a sophisticated-looking paragraph that uses hanging indentation.

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Why won't Google Docs let me do a hanging indent?

In Google Docs, highlight your citation(s), then go to Format > Align & indent > Indentation options. In the Indentation options window that pops up, select "hanging" under Special Indent. Make sure it says "0.5" in the field next to that dropdown, then click Apply. Voila!

How do you insert a hanging indent?

Create a hanging indent.
Select the text where you want to add a hanging indent..
Go to Home > Paragraph dialog launcher. > Indents and Spacing..
Under Special, select Hanging. You can adjust the depth of the indent using the By field..
Select OK..

What does hanging indent mean Google Docs?

A hanging indent is when the second and subsequent lines of text on a page are indented to the right, so your first line stands out as the only line hitting the margin of the page. Typically, you'd use a hanging indent in a bibliography, Works Cited, or References page.

Is there a shortcut for hanging indent?

Hanging Indents Using Ctrl+T On most computers, you can create a hanging indent by selecting the line you want indented and then holding down the Ctrl and T buttons at the same time. If you are using a Mac, press Cmd T instead.