Answered By: Josh Weber
Last Updated: May 22, 2019     Views: 48

A hanging indent is where all the lines except the first are indented.  They are used when creating the full citation of a source.  Here are the steps to create a hanging indent when using microsoft word or google docs. 

 

Microsoft Word

  • Highlight your citation
  • Right click the highlighted text
  • select Paragraph from the drop down menu
  • In the paragraph window go to Indentation.  Under Indentation go to the Special option and select Hanging.  Also, make sure that the indent is 0.5" under the 'By' option. 
  • You citation should now have a hanging indent

 

Google Docs

  • Make sure the ruler is visible. if it isn't click 'View' and then click 'show ruler'  
  • Select the text you want indented.
  • On the ruler, drag the Left Indent (light blue inverted triangle) to the right as far as you want the text to be indented. As you will notice, the First Line Indent marker (light blue rectangle) will come along for the ride, and all your selected text will move to the right.

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