To justify a paragraph in Word, click anywhere in the paragraph (or select several) and press Ctrl + J, or click the Justify button in the Paragraph group on the Home tab. Word spreads the text so it lines up evenly on both the left and right margins. The last line of each paragraph stays aligned left. On a Mac, press Command + J.
Justified text can leave large gaps between words. Here’s how to justify text, fix those gaps, and justify an entire document.
How to justify text in Word
- Click in the paragraph, or select the paragraphs you want to justify. Press Ctrl + A for the whole document.
- On the Home tab, click Justify (the icon with even lines on both sides). Or press Ctrl + J.
Alignment shortcuts
| Alignment | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Justify | Ctrl + J | Command + J |
| Left | Ctrl + L | Command + L |
| Center | Ctrl + E | Command + E |
| Right | Ctrl + R | Command + R |
Fix big gaps between words
- Turn on hyphenation: Go to Layout > Hyphenation > Automatic. Breaking long words across lines evens out spacing.
- Check for manual line breaks: Lines ending with Shift + Enter stretch across the whole line when justified. Turn on Show/Hide ¶ to spot the ↵ symbol, and replace it with a normal paragraph break or remove it.
- Widen the text area: Narrow columns show more gaps. Reduce margins or use fewer columns.
- Use a smaller font size so more words fit on each line.
Justify all lines, including the last one
For headings or special designs, you can stretch every line, including the last, with Distributed alignment. Press Ctrl + Shift + J, or click the arrow next to Justify (in some versions) and choose Distribute. This can leave very wide spaces, so use it sparingly.
Make justified text the default
- On the Home tab, right-click the Normal style and choose Modify.
- Click the Justify button in the dialog.
- Select New documents based on this template and click OK.
Hyphenation can reduce gaps in justified text; see how to turn hyphenation on or off in Word.
Related: Flush left in Word.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use justified or left-aligned text?
Left-aligned text is easier to read on screens and avoids uneven spacing. Justified text looks formal in print, like books and newsletters.
Why is one line of my justified paragraph stretched out?
It probably ends with a manual line break (Shift + Enter). Replace it with a paragraph break or remove it.
How do I justify text in Word for the web?
Select the text and press Ctrl + J, or click the alignment button on the Home tab and choose Justify.
Does justified text affect accessibility?
Uneven word spacing can make reading harder for some people, including those with dyslexia. Many accessibility guides recommend left alignment.
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.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.