A hanging indent keeps the first line of a paragraph at the left margin and indents every line after it. It’s the standard layout for reference lists in APA, MLA, and Chicago style, and it’s handy for glossaries and numbered definitions too. You might also see it described as “indenting the second line.” Word can create one in a few seconds with a shortcut, the Paragraph dialog, or the ruler.
When to use a hanging indent
- Reference lists, works cited pages, and bibliographies, so each source’s first word stands out when readers scan for an author
- Glossaries and dictionaries, where the term sits at the margin and its definition wraps beneath
- Legal documents and scripts that number or label paragraphs
- Resumes, to line up wrapped lines under a job title or date
Quick answer
Select the paragraphs and press Ctrl+T (Command+T on a Mac). Or open the Paragraph dialog, set Special to Hanging and By to 0.5″, and select OK.
Method 1: Use the Paragraph dialog (most precise)
- Select the paragraphs you want to format. Press Ctrl+A to select the whole document.
- On the Home tab, select the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Paragraph group.
- Under Indentation, open the Special drop-down and choose Hanging.
- Set By to the size you need. Most citation styles use 0.5 inch (1.27 cm).
- Check the Preview box, then select OK.
Method 2: Use the keyboard shortcut
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Add or increase a hanging indent | Ctrl+T | Command+T |
| Reduce or remove it | Ctrl+Shift+T | Command+Shift+T |
Each press moves the indent to the next default tab stop, which is 0.5 inch unless you’ve changed it.
Method 3: Drag the ruler markers
- Turn on the ruler with View > Ruler.
- Select your paragraphs.
- On the left of the ruler, drag the bottom triangle (the Hanging Indent marker) to the right, to the 0.5″ mark. The top triangle (First Line Indent) stays at 0.
Hold Alt while dragging to see exact measurements. Dragging the small box under the triangles moves both together, which indents the whole paragraph instead.
Word for Mac and Word for the web
On a Mac, select the text and choose Format > Paragraph, then set Special to Hanging. In Word for the web, select the text, open the Paragraph settings from the Home tab, and choose Hanging under Special indentation.
Hanging indents for citations
APA 7, MLA 9, and Chicago reference lists all use a 0.5-inch hanging indent. APA and MLA also double-space the list. If you build your bibliography with Word’s References > Bibliography tool, the built-in Bibliography style already uses a hanging indent; see updating a bibliography in Word and sorting a bibliography alphabetically. For a full MLA setup, follow MLA format in Word.
Apply it to all references at once with a style
- Format one reference with a hanging indent.
- With the cursor in it, right-click a style in the Styles gallery and choose Update to Match Selection, or create a new style named References.
- Click in any other entry and apply the style.
Using a style keeps the indent consistent and means new entries pick it up automatically.
Doing this in Google Docs?
Select the text, then choose Format > Align & indent > Indentation options. Under Special indent, pick Hanging, enter 0.5, and select Apply. You can also drag the blue indent markers on the Google Docs ruler. Our guide to MLA format in Google Docs covers works cited pages there.
Troubleshooting
- Only the first line moves: You set a first-line indent instead. Change Special from First line to Hanging. For a normal first-line indent, see setting a 0.5-inch first-line indent.
- Each line of a reference is indented separately: The reference contains manual line breaks or paragraph marks. Turn on formatting marks (Ctrl+Shift+8) and delete the extra ¶ or ↵ symbols so each reference is one paragraph.
- Indent jumps too far: Ctrl+T was pressed more than once. Press Ctrl+Shift+T to step back, or set the exact value in the Paragraph dialog.
- Pasted references won’t format: Paste with Keep Text Only, then apply the indent again.
Related: Indent in Google Docs.
Frequently asked questions
What size should a hanging indent be?
Half an inch (1.27 cm) is standard for APA, MLA, and Chicago. Check your instructor’s or publisher’s guidelines if they differ.
Is “indent the second line” the same as a hanging indent?
Yes. A hanging indent is how Word indents the second and following lines of a paragraph while leaving the first line in place.
How do I remove a hanging indent?
Select the text and press Ctrl+Shift+T until it’s gone, or set Special to (none) in the Paragraph dialog.
Can I use a hanging indent with a bulleted list?
Bullets already use one. To adjust it, right-click the list and choose Adjust List Indents.
Will the hanging indent stay if I send the file to someone else?
Yes. It’s saved as paragraph formatting in the document, so it appears the same in Word on any computer, in Word for the web, and in most other editors that open .docx files.
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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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