Microsoft Word Line Spacing Too Big?

Having the right line spacing in your Word documents is important for readability and professional appearance. However, many users complain that the default line spacing in Word seems too big or inconsistent. Here’s why this happens and how to fix it.

Why Does Line Spacing Seem Too Big in Word?

There are a few reasons why you may perceive line spacing as too large in Word:

Default Spacing Change in Word 2007 – Microsoft increased the default line spacing to 1.15 lines in Word 2007 and newer versions, compared to 1.0 lines in previous versions. This slightly larger spacing was intended to improve readability.

Spacing Inconsistencies – Using different fonts, font sizes, or formatting within a paragraph can cause uneven gaps between lines, making spacing seem irregular.
Paragraph Spacing Issues – Extra spacing before or after paragraphs can make text appear more spread out. Word’s default style includes 8pt spacing after paragraphs.
Font Spacing Quirks – Some fonts are known to have looser default spacing between lines based on their design. For example, Times New Roman has default line spacing of about 120% of the font size.

How To Decrease Line Spacing

Here are steps to reduce line spacing in Word documents:

Change Default Line Spacing

To change the default for all new documents:

Go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing

Click Line Spacing Options
Under Spacing, choose a lower line spacing multiple, like 1.0
Click Set as Default > All documents based on the Normal template > OK

Reduce Line Spacing in Existing Documents

To reduce line spacing in an open document:

Select the text to change or press Ctrl+A to select all text
Go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing

Choose a lower line spacing value or select Line Spacing Options to customize spacing

Remove Extra Paragraph Spacing

To remove extra spacing between paragraphs:

Go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing

Click Remove Space After Paragraph

You can also click the Paragraph dialog box launcher to customize paragraph spacing precisely.

Use Consistent Formatting

Avoid uneven gaps by using a consistent font, font size, and spacing within paragraphs. Don’t mix formatting unless spacing differences are intentional.

When To Use Larger Line Spacing

More line spacing can improve readability when used judiciously:

Academic Papers – Use double spacing for essays, research papers, and other academic manuscripts
Proofreading – Temporarily increase line spacing to 1.5 or 2.0 to leave more room for editing marks

Narrow Columns – Slightly looser spacing works better for text in narrow newspaper-style columns
Young Audiences – More line spacing improves readability for children’s books and textbooks

So adjust line spacing based on your document’s target audience and purpose.

Troubleshooting Tips

Here are some troubleshooting tips for line spacing issues:

Display formatting marks to check for extra paragraphs or inconsistent spacing
Try copying the text into a new document to see if spacing issues persist

Change the font or font size – some fonts have more default spacing
Adjust paragraph indents and tab stops if they are causing gaps
Disable full justification, which can create uneven word spacing

Resetting to the Normal style, clearing formatting, or changing templates can help resolve difficult spacing issues.

Line Spacing Best Practices

Follow these line spacing best practices in Word:

Set 1.0 or 1.15 Spacing as Default – Change the default line spacing to a tighter setting for new documents

Be Consistent Within Paragraphs – Don’t mix fonts or sizes without adjusting spacing
Use Paragraph Breaks for Space – Add extra paragraph breaks instead of looser line spacing
Check Spacing Before Print or Export – Fix inconsistencies before sharing documents