7 min read
Published on: Jun 24, 2024
Last updated on: Jul 18, 2024
Hanging indents are a fundamental aspect of document formatting, particularly in academic and professional writing.
They refer to a style where the first line of a paragraph starts at the left margin, while subsequent lines are indented to the right.
This indentation creates a “hanging” appearance, where the text seems to be suspended from the first line.
Our blog will show how you can create hanging indents in popular word processing software like MS Word and Google Docs.
Creating hanging indents in Microsoft Word is a straightforward process. There are two ways to create them. We’ll discuss them both.
Follow these simple steps to use the paragraph settings method for creating hanging indentation:
Step 1. Select Your Text: Highlight the paragraphs or lines for which you want to create hanging indents.
Step 2. Access the Paragraph Dialog Box: There are different ways to access the Paragraph dialog box:
Step 3. Set the Indentation: In the Paragraph dialog box, navigate to the “Indentation” section.
Step 4. Apply Changes: Click “OK” to apply the changes.
In the second method, you can also use the ruler feature to create hanging indents. Here's how:
Step 1. Show the Ruler: If the ruler is not visible, go to the “View” tab and check the “Ruler” option.
Step 2. Set the Hanging Indent:
To create a hanging indent of 0.5 inches (1.27 cm), place the upper triangular marker at the document's edge, then move the lower triangular marker to the initial mark after 1 cm.
Using either the Paragraph dialog box or the ruler feature, you can easily create hanging indents in Microsoft Word to enhance the presentation of your documents.
Google Docs also offers an easy way to create hanging indents. Follow these simple steps:
Step 1. Select Your Text: Highlight the paragraphs or lines for which you want to create hanging indents.
Step 2. Access the Indentation Options:
Step 3. Set the Indentation:
Step 4. Apply Changes: Click “Apply” or “OK” to apply the hanging indents to your selected text.
By following these simple steps, you can easily create hanging indents in your Google Docs documents.Common Citation
Hanging indents are used in the reference list entries of some popular and widely used citation styles, such as:
Let’s move on to some examples of using hanging indents in different citation formats.
In MLA work cited page, the references should be double-spaced, and if the reference takes two lines, use the hanging indent for the next line and onwards.
Here are some examples of hanging indent in MLA references:
Patel, Aisha. Beyond Borders: Exploring of Cultural Identity in Contemporary Literature. HarperCollins, 2020. Chang, Wei-Lin. “Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Development: A Case Study of Urban Gardens.” Ecological Perspectives, vol. 15, no. 3, 2019, pp. 87-102. |
In the APA style reference page, the hanging indent is used in the same way as it is used in the MLA style.
Here are some examples:
Johnson, T. K. (2017). The Psychology of Decision Making. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.07.024 Kim, S., & Lee, H. (2020). The Impact of Virtual Reality on Learning and Education. Educational Technology Research and Development, 68(3), 1473-1485. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-020-09802-4 |
Just like APA and MLA format, after the first line of each bibliographic page, the subsequent line is indented 0.5 inches from the left.
Take a look at these hanging indent examples of Chicago references:
Adams, Sarah. “Analyzing the Effects of Climate Change on Wild Life Animals.” Environmental Studies Quarterly 25, no. 3 (2018): 45-59. Garcia, Maria. “Local Community Hosts Charity Event.” Chicago Tribune, February 15, 2024, p. A4. |
Struggling with citations? PerfectEssayWriter.ai offers an easy-to-use citation generator designed to save you time and headaches. No more fretting over APA, MLA, or Chicago style – our tools handle it all. Simply input your sources, and voilà! Your citations are formatted correctly, leaving you more time to focus on your writing.
To create a hanging indent in Word on a Mac:
In Microsoft Word, there isn't a universal shortcut key for creating a hanging indent. The hanging indent is typically created using the Paragraph settings dialog box, as described in the instructions for Word on Mac.
Unfortunately, Google Slides doesn't have a direct hanging indent feature like Word. However, you can manually create a hanging indent by adjusting the indentation markers on the ruler at the top of the document. Click and drag the markers to the desired position for the first line and subsequent lines.
In Canvas, you typically don't format text directly within the platform itself. Instead, you would format your text in a word processing program like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, including hanging indents as needed, and then copy and paste the formatted text into Canvas.
Hanging indents make text easier to read and organize by separating paragraphs or lists. They're crucial in bibliographies, indented paragraphs, and business documents for clarity and professionalism.
WRITTEN BY
Cathy Aranda (Mass communication)
Cathy is a highly dedicated author who has been writing for the platform for over five years. With a Master's degree in Mass Communication, she is well-versed in various forms of writing such as articles, press releases, blog posts, and whitepapers. As an essay writing guide author at PerfectEssayWriter.ai, she has been helping students and professionals improve their writing skills by offering practical tips on research, citation, sentence structure, and style.
Cathy is a highly dedicated author who has been writing for the platform for over five years. With a Master's degree in Mass Communication, she is well-versed in various forms of writing such as articles, press releases, blog posts, and whitepapers. As an essay writing guide author at PerfectEssayWriter.ai, she has been helping students and professionals improve their writing skills by offering practical tips on research, citation, sentence structure, and style.
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