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Making Single Space the Default in Microsoft Word 2007 & 2010

For some unknown reason (to me), Microsoft has decided to make paragraph spacing in Word 2007, 2010 and Start Edition double-space by default. In all previous version of Word, you need to press the Enter key twice to double-space. When formatting street addresses, for example, a user typically wants them to be single spaced, but that doesn’t happen in the newer versions of Word.

Sure, you could try to remember to press Shift+Enter when you want to force a single space, but who can remember that every time you need it? The easier solution is to change the spacing between lines back to zero. Here’s how to do it:

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28 thoughts on “Making Single Space the Default in Microsoft Word 2007 & 2010”

  1. Monica O.

    OMG! I was wondering how to change that to single space. I would forget until it was time to use it. Thanks rick!

    4. Sherry

      Could not hear the audio. Followed along, but it did not work for me. I typically have to change to single space from multiple AND click the do not add space between paragraphs button, but it will not save as a default setting. I have to do it in EACH and EVERY document I create/open. Very annoying. Any suggestions?

  3. Harold

    Yet another reason I have given up on MS Word. I’ll stick with the 2002 version until it is truly obsolete. Using Open Office looks better and better.

      1. G in Garfield County, Colorado

        Thanks, Rick! and speaking of Open Office, why does it load so slow??? I’m a very impatient person (…thus it’s a miracle I keep using computers) It’s that way on every machine I’ve ever used it on.

        1. Rick

          Yep, it is a little slow loading…especially on computers without at least 2gb of RAM. Make sure you have the newest version, and you might even consider trying the newer LibreOffice from http://www.libreoffice.org/ It is essentially OpenOffice now supported by the same programmers who developed it, but didn’t want to be under the Oracle (Sun Microsystems) umbrella. Still, for free and such a solid product, can we really complain too loudly?

  5. G in Garfield County, Colorado

    thank you, sir
    i was trying not to complain too loudly 🙂
    i know you’re kinda humble, but i couldn’t have done it without ya
    thanks, please keep it up

  6. Kristin

    One of my many frustrations with Word has just been eliminated. Thank you! 30 seconds after watching your video and I’m back to single spacing! Thank you!!

  8. C. Lynn Harbour

    Thank you so much, Rick – my blood pressure has just dropped back down after accidentally seeing your site. I get so frustrated with the newer versions in general – they are fancy and pretty, but less user friendly than one would initially think. I’m working on it tho’.

    LYNN

  9. Andreas Wolter

    Hi Rick
    Thanks for the nice illustration about single space. But how can I do in Outlook 2010 when I am replying or forwarding a email. I have try the way you describes but it seems like going back to the old setting when replying to a new mail.

    Best Regardss
    Andreas

  11. Eileen

    Thank you so much for your help with this. I have wasted so much time editing unwanted spaces out.

    I use an older version of Outlook and Word but in the past I downloaded MS “Compatibiity Pack for the 2007 Office User”, so I, too, have the problem. The only way I can think to eliminate the problem for me is to uninstall the compatibility pack, but that would be disastrous for me.
    Is Microsoft going to fix this ‘space’ problem? Thanks again.

  14. Alan

    Why can’t Microsoft get it right? From annoying pop-ups, to maddening security warnings that YOU CAN’T GET RID OF, to this new double-spacing frustration, it’s no wonder the field is wide open for Google and Apple… Do people that work at Microsoft actually use Microsoft software? Or better yet, do they actually use Mac software to get ideas on how to make their own software more user-friendly? Anyway, thanks for the short tutorial…this was driving me crazy =)

  15. Flora De La Torre

    My question was: Why is my document double-spaced when it is printed? I
    have a need to print-out needed
    documents from PC. Double-spacing
    uses more paper and the words are
    scrambled and out of sequence.

    2. Rick

      If your document is double-spaced on the screen, then it will print the same way. Make sure to use Print Preview before printing so you know what you are getting for sure. And to apply single spacing to your entire document, make sure to select all the text first, THEN apply the single spacing. That should get you going. Good luck.

  18. Gene

    GRRRR! no video, no sound! Why can’t you just provide instructions? Why did Microsoft go double space as default in the fxirst place.

    Apple, here I come

  19. Kathryn

    Thank you!! I never understood why they would do this– It has been driving me crazy at work since we “upgraded” (yea right) last year. I can’t believe it took me this long to find the permanent solution. Thanks again!

  21. Berend

    Thanks for the reminder; I fixed this last year and couldn’t figure out how I did it again.
    Which brings me to my question: does anyone know how to prevent (or can guess how I may accidentally cause this to happen) that the change to the normal.dot occasionally reverts again?
    This is the third time since I started using this version of Word that I’ve actually made this change. Something flips it back to default every once in a while. Any ideas?

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