Paragraph alignment controls how each line of text lines up between the left and right margins. Word gives you four options: left, center, right, and justified. You can switch between them with a click or a keyboard shortcut, set them for a whole document, and fine-tune spacing so justified text doesn’t leave awkward gaps. This guide covers all of it, including left and right justification.
Quick answer
Click in the paragraph (or select several), then use the alignment buttons in the Paragraph group on the Home tab, or press Ctrl + L (left), Ctrl + E (center), Ctrl + R (right), or Ctrl + J (justify). On a Mac, use Command instead of Ctrl.
The four alignment options
| Alignment | Shortcut | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Left | Ctrl + L | Lines start at the left margin, with a ragged right edge | Most documents, emails, essays |
| Center | Ctrl + E | Lines are centered between the margins | Titles, headings, invitations |
| Right | Ctrl + R | Lines end at the right margin | Dates, addresses in letters, captions |
| Justify | Ctrl + J | Lines stretch to both margins with even edges | Books, newsletters, formal reports |
How to align a paragraph
- Click anywhere in the paragraph. You don’t need to select the whole thing, since alignment applies to the entire paragraph.
- To change several paragraphs, select them, or press Ctrl + A to select the whole document.
- On the Home tab, click Align Left, Center, Align Right, or Justify.
The active button is highlighted, so you can always see how the current paragraph is aligned. For more on centering, see how to center align in Word.
Left justify vs. right justify
People often say “left justify” and “right justify,” but in Word these are simply Align Left and Align Right. True Justify lines text up on both sides. If you want text flush with the left margin and a straight right edge as well, use Justify.
Align paragraphs in Word for the web and mobile
In Word for the web, the same four alignment buttons are on the Home tab, and the Ctrl shortcuts work too. In the Word app on iPhone, iPad, or Android, tap in the paragraph, open the formatting menu, and look for the alignment buttons in the Paragraph section. Alignment you set on one device stays the same when you open the document on another.
Use the Paragraph dialog for more control
- Click the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Paragraph group.
- Choose an option in the Alignment drop-down.
- Adjust Indentation and Spacing on the same tab if needed.
- Click OK.
The dialog also offers Distributed alignment, which spreads even the last line of a paragraph across the full width. You can apply it with Ctrl + Shift + J.
Fix gaps in justified text
Justified text can leave big spaces between words, especially in narrow columns. To tighten it up:
- Turn on hyphenation: Layout > Hyphenation > Automatic. Word breaks long words at line ends so spacing stays even.
- Avoid manual line breaks (Shift + Enter) inside justified paragraphs. They can stretch the line before them across the page.
- Widen the column or use a slightly smaller font if the text is very narrow.
Set the default alignment for a document
To make every new paragraph use the same alignment, change the Normal style. On the Home tab, right-click Normal in the Styles gallery, choose Modify, click an alignment button, and click OK. Choose New documents based on this template if you want it for all future documents too.
Align text vertically and in tables
Paragraph alignment is horizontal. To center text from top to bottom on a page, use Layout > Page Setup > Layout tab > Vertical alignment. See how to vertically align text in Word. For tables, see how to align tables in Word.
Align text on both sides of one line
To put text at the left margin and other text at the right margin on the same line, like a name and a date, use a right tab stop. Double-click the ruler near the right margin to add a tab, set it to Right in the Tabs dialog, then press Tab before the text you want on the right. Our guide to aligning colons in Word shows tab stops in action.
Related: How to align text boxes in Word.
Related: Stop Word from auto-capitalizing.
Related: Flush left in Word.
Frequently asked questions
Why won’t my paragraph align?
Check for extra spaces or tabs at the start of lines, and turn on formatting marks (Ctrl + Shift + 8) to spot them. Text inside a table cell or text box follows that object’s alignment settings.
Which alignment is best for readability?
Left alignment is generally easiest to read on screen. Justified text looks formal in print but can create uneven spacing.
Can I align only part of a paragraph?
No. Alignment applies to whole paragraphs. Press Enter to split the text into separate paragraphs, or use tab stops.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
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