do i indent the first paragraph of an essay

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A Guide to Indenting Paragraphs

4-minute read

• 9th July 2022

Indentation refers to the gap between the left-hand margin and the beginning of text on the page or screen. Like font choice and line spacing , indentation might seem like a trivial formatting decision, but using indentation effectively makes your writing more professional-looking and easier to read.

In this guide, we’ll summarize the rules for indentation given by three of the most common style guides. Then we’ll explain the simplest way to apply paragraph indentation in Microsoft Word. First though, what are the different types of indentation?

Indentation Options

Microsoft Word offers three choices of indentation style:

●  Standard: Each line of text is indented by a specified amount. This type of indentation is useful for block quotes and other sections of text that you want to set apart.

●  First line: Indentation is applied to the first line of each paragraph. This provides a visual clue to readers that you’re shifting focus or introducing a new idea.

●  Hanging: An indent is applied to the second and subsequent lines of each paragraph. Hanging indentation is most often used in works cited lists and bibliographies, as it enables readers to easily scan the list of authors.

Indentation in APA Style

In APA , you should indent the first line of each paragraph by 0.5” (1.27 cm). This rule also applies to the abstract, except for the first line, which should be left aligned.

Standard indentation of 0.5” is applied to block quotations, and if the quote runs to more than one paragraph, you must indent the first line of the second and subsequent paragraphs by a further 0.5”.

The entries in an APA reference list should have a hanging indent of 0.5”.

Indentation in MLA Style

The guidelines for MLA are very similar to those of APA with a slight difference in the formatting of block quotes. In MLA, the first line of the second and subsequent paragraphs of block quotes should be indented by only 0.25”. Moreover, if the beginning of the first paragraph of the block quote begins a paragraph in the source text, it too should be indented by 0.25”.

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Indentation in Associated Press Style

The Associated Press Stylebook says that you should not use indentation to indicate the start of a new paragraph. Instead, you should hit the Enter key twice at the end of a paragraph (like we do in our blog posts). Block quotes should have standard indentation of 0.5”.

How to Apply Indentation in MS Word

One quick way to indent text is to hit the Tab key when the cursor is at the beginning of a line. This will indent the line by 0.5”. Pressing Tab again will increase the indent by a further 0.5” and so on. However, if you want to apply a consistent indentation style throughout a section or an entire document, it’s more efficient to use the options in the Paragraph section of the Home tab.

To automatically apply indentation to the first line of every paragraph, select Paragraph Options on the Home tab, then choose First line from the list of special indentations. Finally, enter the size of indentation you require in centimeters (e.g., 1.27).

Hanging indentations work in much the same way. You simply choose Hanging instead of First line .

For block quotes, you can use the Increase Indent button, which appears on the Home and Layout tabs. Each time you press it, the indent increases by 0.5”. You can then reduce or remove the indent with the Decrease Indent button.

Alternatively, you could create a custom style for block quotes using the Styles feature. To do this, follow these steps:

• Select the relevant text and apply indentation either with the Increase Indent button or by entering the required size in Paragraph Options .
• With the text still selected, click on the Styles Pane and select New Style.
• A Create New Style from Formatting box should appear. Enter a name for your newly created style (e.g., Block quote ).

You will then be able to choose the same style and easily apply it to all of the block quotes in your document.

Flawless Formatting

We hope you now feel confident about when and how to apply indentation in your writing. When you upload a document to us for proofreading , you can add full formatting as an extra option. Or, if your writing has already been checked for errors, we offer a formatting-only service— contact us today for a quote.

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How and When to Use Indentation in Academic and Professional Writing

Writing an essay, research paper, and assignments involves coordinating many things simultaneously. You can only achieve good academic writing when you adhere to the correct formatting style of a paper. Often, indenting the paragraphs is an ingredient to paper formatting that most students either ignore or are unaware of. Apart from setting up the right 1-inch margins around the paper, setting the paper in double or single-spacing, having page numbers, and titling your work, you need to ensure that you indent it appropriately.

In academic writing, which is usually done on Microsoft Word, indentation means formatting the paragraphs so that the first sentence is slightly pushed forward, leaving a space between the margin and the first word. Indenting your paragraph helps in organization and distinguishing a paragraph from the next. You should always indent your topic sentences, conclusion paragraphs, and the first sentence of the introduction paragraph.

Should you indent every paragraph in your essay or research paper?

You should indent every paragraph when writing an essay, research paper, term paper, thesis, or dissertation. This applies to the APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard writing formats. Ensure that each of the first lines for every new paragraph you are writing is indented 0.5 inches from the left margin.

To indent in a word document, use the tab key or press the space bar five times. Using the tab key is far much accurate because it sets the cursor at the exact place where you need to type your first sentence in the paragraph.

When writing a long research paper or essay that needs an abstract, ensure that you indent the paragraphs of the paper but not the abstract. An abstract is never indented. Instead, when writing an abstract, left-align the entire paragraph so there is no indent. Again, this special formatting technique for the abstract helps to distinguish it from the rest of the paper.

Having answered the most pertinent question, let us have an overview of what this means for the formatting styles such as MLA, APA, Chicago, or Harvard formatting.

Related reading:

• How to write good paragraphs in an essay.

Main formatting Styles and Indentation

In high school, college, or university, essays and other academic assignments and homework are written following academic writing conventions. It is a requirement to stick to a specific formatting and citation style when writing a specific paper. The formatting styles depend on the subject.

For instance, most English papers are written in MLA, APA, Harvard, and Chicago. If you are a nursing student, you will write most papers in APA, ASA, Harvard, or AMA formatting style. Humanities such as religious studies, history, arts, and literature will use the Chicago style. Most social sciences, such as criminology, will use Harvard and APA formatting styles. The list is endless.

Whenever you doubt the style requirements, check out the style guides available online to proceed with writing when you are sure about what to include and what not to include.

MLA Formatting Requirements

When writing a paper in MLA format, you should indent each paragraph in the essay or research paper. Besides, you should also indent the block quotes 0.5 inches and not include quotation marks.

You can indent the paragraphs by pressing the tab key or setting the indentation from the word processor you are using.

The works cited page is left-aligned but set in a hanging indent of 0.5 inches. Everything in the paper is left-aligned and not justified.

APA Formatting Requirements

When writing an essay in APA format, ensure that you indent the lines of all the paragraphs in your essay or paper except for the abstract that is not indented.

You should indent the first lines of the introduction and conclusion paragraphs. Ensure that you press one-tab space in the next line where you are about to begin a new paragraph so that you make a 0.5” indentation.

You can set automatic indentation in a word document and ensure that there are no spaces between paragraphs and that the entire paragraph is left-aligned.

However, for your references in the list of references, ensure they are left-aligned and formatted with a hanging indent. The same applies when writing an annotated bibliography; the reference and the annotation should be in a hanging indent.

When writing a direct quotation, you should also indent it if you are lifting a block quote from a text. This applies if the quote is longer than three lines. Indent the entire quote0.5 inches from the margin and do not include the quotation marks.

Harvard Formatting Style - Indentation

When writing a paper that follows the Harvard Style guideline, ensure that you indent your essay as you type and not after the writing process. It might take a long time to write the paper, but you will complete it with the deserved organization that is easy to follow.

If you are writing a dissertation, thesis, scientific paper, or proposal in Harvard format, waiting until the end to indent the paragraphs will disturb your flow. You will also have a challenge distinguishing the paragraphs.

Note that indentation in Harvard formatting style follows the same conventions as that of APA, which we explained in the previous section. In Harvard formatting, indent all the paragraphs and block quotes but the reference list. Like APA, MLA, Chicago, and Oxford, the reference list has a hanging indent where the first line flashes to the left and the rest of the lines 0.5 inches to the right.

Chicago Formatting Style

In Chicago style formatting, you should double-space your text, including the notes and the bibliography sections. While doing so, ensure that the first line in each new paragraph in your essay or paper is indented. You can achieve this by hitting the tab key.

The footnotes or endnotes in Chicago formatting:

• The paper has a uniform 1-inch margin around the paper
• Use a hanging indent of 0.5 inches on the bibliography entry, and it should be single-spaced but double-space between entries
• Ensure that the block quotations are indented 0.5 inches and double-spaced
• Indent all the paragraphs in the body of the paper
• Indent all the footnotes and the endnotes 0.5 inches from the left margin. The notes are single-spaced
• The introduction and the conclusion must be indented 0.5 inches

Setting Indent in Microsoft Word

If you are using a Microsoft Word processor, select the paragraphs you want to indent , then on the home button, click on the dialog box launcher. Choose the right indent and set the line spacing, and click OK.

Related reading: the standard number of paragraphs in an essay .

Even though indentation is a critical formatting technique in academic writing, most people wonder when to do it. Luckily, we have demystified everything in this article, including how to do it in Microsoft Word.

When writing your next essay or research paper, ensure that you do it right. And as you proofread for errors and style, check if you have indented your paper correctly. Whether you are writing the paper in APA, Harvard, Chicago, or MLA, you are now aware of what to do with indentation.

Indenting your paragraphs in an essay helps break and determine the small paragraphs, and your readers can follow the paragraphs and connect the ideas in them. Now that you know how to indent ensure that you break paragraphs using indentation and write as you indent.

Gradecrest is a professional writing service that provides original model papers. We offer personalized services along with research materials for assistance purposes only. All the materials from our website should be used with proper references. See our Terms of Use Page for proper details.

A first-line in­dent is the most com­mon way to sig­nal the start of a new para­graph. The other com­mon way is with space be­tween para­graphs .

First-line in­dents and space be­tween para­graphs have the same re­la­tion­ship as belts and sus­penders. You only need one to get the job done. Us­ing both is a mis­take. If you use a first-line in­dent on a para­graph, don’t use space be­tween. And vice versa.

Typ­i­cally, a first-line in­dent should be no smaller than the cur­rent point size , or else it’ll be hard to no­tice. It should be no big­ger than four times the point size, or else the first line will seem dis­con­nected from the left edge. So a para­graph set in 12 point should have a first-line in­dent of 12–48 points. (Re­call that there are 72 points to an inch, so this works out to 0.17–0.67″.)

But use your judg­ment—con­sider the width of the text block when set­ting the first-line in­dent. For in­stance, nar­row text blocks (3″ or less) should have first-line in­dents to­ward the low end of this range. Wider text blocks should have big­ger indents.

Don’t use word spaces or tabs to in­dent the first line—as you re­call from white-space char­ac­ters , that’s not what they’re for. Para­graphs in­dented with word spaces or tabs are hard to keep con­sis­tent and waste far more time than they save. Use the right tool for the  job.

Word Right-click in the text and se­lect Paragraph → Indents and Spacing . Un­der Indentation , from the popup menu la­beled Special , se­lect First line and en­ter the mea­sure­ment in the ad­ja­cent  box.

Pages View → Show Toolbar (or op­tion + ⌘ + t) → Format but­ton → Layout pane → un­der Indents , in the box la­beled First , en­ter the measurement.

CSS Use the text-in­dent property

It’s pos­si­ble to set a neg­a­tive first-line in­dent, or hang­ing in­dent . Hang­ing in­dents are used in lists to cre­ate a rec­tan­gu­lar text block with a list bul­let that dan­gles off to the left. (Like this one.) Avoid us­ing a hang­ing in­dent with­out a bul­let—your text block should not re­sem­ble Ok­la­homa. Text should only be in­dented inward.

writers' advice weblog

What’s the rule for indenting first paragraphs.

Dear Editor…

Is there a rule that says the first paragraph of a new chapter should NOT be indented? Or is the decision to indent or not indent the first paragraph solely a case-by-case design decision?

Thanks, Kate

You get to do what you want with that indent. Setting the first line flush left for a chapter-opening paragraph ( and after space breaks within the text as well) is the general “norm” when it comes to interior text design, but there’s no absolute hard-and-fast rule. My designer colleagues tell me it’s nice to have the freedom to play with this element—they’d put a big ol’ indent if that worked for a project’s design style—but you’ll almost never see examples of that because breaking from this norm can strike readers as awkward. Keep that in mind if you’re designing the interior for your own self-published project. If you’re just wondering how to format your manuscript for submission, go with the tried-and-true flush left treatment for those chapter and break openers. Definitely don’t submit manuscripts set in that blog-like style that has extra line spacing between paragraphs and all first lines flush left.

Happy writing! The Editor

Yep, even more annoying than the variation in indenting rules are the extra lines that Word puts before and after paragraphs and dialogue lines. Why 0 can’t be the programmed-in default, I do not know. Glad to know all the options about indentions.

I, too, wish the default format in Word was the more traditional formatting. For those who don’t know how to get rid of those extra line spaces between paragraphs: Highlight your text (‘Select all’ if need be), then go to the top menu bar, select FORMAT > PARAGRAPH > INDENTS AND SPACING, then tick the box “Don’t add space between paragraphs of the same style.”

You can set up a default template so all new documents will be correct. Open new doc, go to paragraph format and choose 0 space for after (default is an annoying 6), save. Then save as to Word Template using the windows symbol in top left corner. (You’ll see the Word Template choice there.)

Thanks for both mentioning the different styles of indents (I’ve noticed that flushed 1st paragraphs thing in books and have wondered about it) as well as how to get rid of that annoying extra line in Word!

I only like that flush left thing if there’s an oversized letter or word marking the beginning of the paragraph. Sometimes they have very nice artwork. 🙂

Have the rules changed for this? I’ve been told that (with CMOS) not indenting the first paragraph is now wrong or something. It’s difficult for me to accept…

Thanks for this question. I’m happy to field it. For readers who may not know the abbreviation, CMOS is The Chicago Manual of Style (sometimes CMS). You can read the 17th edition’s full stance on paragraph indents without a subscription via the “Spotlight” feature on its blog at https://bit.ly/39Ra61Q . This pull-out line addresses our question here: “Paragraphs immediately following a chapter title or subheading also may begin flush left (it’s optional).” So go with your preference and book design in a published book. For manuscripts, I like the flush left option, but it’s up to you.

So, how did indents begin? Typesetters discovered that block paragraphs, which use a space between pagraphs, consumed more paper. The idea of creating an indent, allowed them to not have to use the extra space. The indent defined the break between paragraphs. The first paragraph, by typesetting rule, is flush because there is no paragraph above it, and it is only used on the second to the last paragraph of all chapters, not on the first ones.

…the second all the way to the last paragraph…

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Top Rules to Indent Paragraphs in an Essay

Should you indent every paragraph in your essay? By the end of this text, you will be familiar with rules for indentation in various citation styles. We will also explore indentation in MLA and APA styles.

What is indentation anyway?  Indentation is a style of formatting a paragraph that leaves a blank space between the first word and the beginning of your line of text. An indent in word does more than making your paragraphs appealing. It signals flow of ideas and continuity in an essay.

Do You Indent Every Paragraph in an Essay?

Every first line of a succeeding paragraph should be indented 0.5 inches from the left margin. To indent a paragraph, press Tab key once or 5 spaces using the space key.

Why do you indent a paragraph?

• Reader guidance: First, it organizes the essay into sections that are readable. A reader will easily track whenever the writer is introducing a new concept.
• Aesthetic appeal of the essay: Second, indentation enhances the overall appearance of the essay, giving it a polished and professional look. No one wants to read an entire block of text like a robot.
• Consistency in academic work: In many academic and professional writing contexts , indentation is a standard formatting convention. It makes students’ work recognizable. Adhering to this convention helps to maintain consistency and professionalism in written work.

Indentation Rules for MLA

MLA formatting follows all specific writing guidelines that include a half-inch indentation too.

• Paragraphs:  Indent the first line of each paragraph one-half inch from the left margin (five spaces or a tab).
• Block Quotes:  For quotes longer than four lines, create a block quotation. Indent the entire block quotation one inch from the left margin (ten spaces or two tabs). Don’t use quotation marks for block quotes.

Indentation Rules for APA 7th Edition

• APA format for indentation requires that all lines of your first paragraph except the the abstract.
• The very first line of paragraphs should be indented. This includes the introduction and the conclusion. 
• For reference lists, the APA formatting requires hanging indentation too, but this is done on the second and subsequent lines of the citation.
• The 0.5’’ indentation for the first line begins to the right of the page where the next line starts.

Except for your first line of each paragraph, start all lines of text from the left margin. Indent every line of a new paragraph by pressing Tab button once space. This should be already set to a standard of 1.27 cm or 0.5.

The University of Arizona , Global Campus provides an example of Abstract and best formatting practices.

If you want to up an automatic indentation of the first line of a paragraph, navigate to the Paragraph formatting settings in Microsoft Word, and then under “Indentation,” select “First line.” Proceed under “Special” and set the preferred indentation under “By” to 0.5 in or 1.27 cm.

Unless otherwise instructed by an instructor or the program handbook, double-space “the whole work, including the title page, the abstract, your entire text headings, block quotes, reference list, table notes and figure comments, as well as appendices” (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 45).

Indenting the Abstract

Unlike the regular essay paragraphs, there is no indentation for the first line of an abstract. Abstracts appear on their own page after the title page and are typically limited to a single paragraph of less than 250 words without indentation.

If you’re writing a long essay or even a research paper that requires an abstract, the rules of indentation remain the same except for the abstract.

The lines in the Abstract should be left aligned but without an indent.

Types of APA indentation

APA style distinguishes two forms of indentation. These are: first line and hanging. The first line of indentation begins to the right of where the next line begins.

APA specifies that most paragraphs use first line indentation. Hanging indentation should place your first line of a paragraph leftward where your next line begins. 

When completing your reference list, APA requires you to use hanging indentation. Writers need to manually adjust the reference point for indents to 0.5 inches from your page’s left margin.

Make sure to double space information that includes tables, headings, direct quotations, and references.

There are variations in the number of indentation spaces depending on the writing style. Formal presentations only need to have a few spaces of indentation, but when writing casual content, you can have more indentation spaces.

Harvard Style   Indentation

The Harvard style guideline encourages indentation as you type rather than indenting after your work is finished. Although this method takes longer, it has a reasoning behind it. 

Writers who use indents while they write structure their text by creating paragraphs. Writers who wait until they have completed a rough draft of their manuscripts frequently struggle to identify the ideal places to divide the content into paragraphs.

How to Indent a Paragraph in Microsoft Word

Technology today makes it easy to format paragraphs and has removed the laborious typing of indentation gaps from the hands of writers. When setting indentations, we now use word processing programs such as Microsoft Word. To set good paragraph indentation in Word, move your cursor in the paragraph you wish to indent or highlight that specific paragraph. Navigate to the Format menu then select the Paragraph option.

While still in the Paragraph dialog box, proceed to enter the appropriate indent width. Select the type of indent you want. Click OK to close the formatting dialog box.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, should i indent my college essay.

Hi there! I'm in the process of writing my college essays, and I'm not sure whether I should indent the beginning of each paragraph. Is there a proper format for the application essays, or is it up to personal preference? I appreciate any advice!

Hello! Great question—and one that many students wonder about as they're putting the final touches on their application essays. It's good that you're attentive to the details of your essay's presentation, as it can reflect your commitment to submitting polished work. For most college essays, especially those submitted through the Common Application or similar platforms, there is no strict rule requiring indentation. Many application systems have a text box editor that will remove formatting. However, having a clear visual separation between paragraphs can aid readability. One common approach is to include a space between paragraphs instead of indenting. Therefore, to keep the appearance of your essay consistent across different platforms, I recommend separating paragraphs with a single blank line and ensuring that you're adhering to any specific guidelines provided by the college or application system you're using. Good luck with your college essays!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

On an APA style paper, do I indent the first line of each paragraph?

Yes, indent the first line of every paragraph, except for the Abstract (see instructions below).

• Paragraphs are indented 0.5” or Tab key once.
• Check the  APA Help  guide  to see a Sample Paper.
• The only paragraph NOT  indented is the Abstract. 
• If the Instructor requires an Abstract, it should be left aligned, with no indent.

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• Last Updated Mar 02, 2020
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Erin Wright Writing

Writing-Related Software Tutorials

How to Indent Paragraphs in Microsoft Word

By Erin Wright

This tutorial shows how to indent paragraphs in Microsoft Word. Specifically, we will look at how to indent paragraphs with the Tab key, the ruler , and the Paragraph dialog box.

Table of Contents:

How to Use the Tab Key to Indent Paragraphs

How to use the ruler to indent paragraphs, how to use the paragraph dialog box to indent paragraphs.

Watch all the steps shown here in real time!

Explore more than 250 writing-related software tutorials on my YouTube channel .

The images below are from Word for Microsoft 365. These steps also apply to Word 2021, Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013.

Are you on a Mac? Please see “ How to Indent Paragraphs in Word for Mac .”

The quickest way to indent individual paragraphs is to use the Tab key on your keyboard.

• Insert your cursor at the start of the paragraph.
• Press the Tab key on your keyboard.

By default, the Tab key will indent paragraphs one half inch (.5”).

Pro Tip: How to Change the Default Tab Indent Length

• Select the Home tab.
• Select the dialog box launcher in the Paragraph group.

• Select the Tabs button in the Paragraph dialog box.

• Enter a new length into the Default tab stop text box.
• Select the OK button.

See “ How to Create, Change, and Delete Tabs in Microsoft Word ” for more information about using tab stops.

The ruler can be used to indent single paragraphs, multiple paragraphs, or the entire document.

Use the Ruler to Indent Single or Multiple Paragraphs

Skip to step 3 if your ruler is already visible.

• Select the View tab.
• Select Ruler in the Show group.

• Select the paragraph or paragraphs.
• Slide the First Line Indent marker (top ruler marker) to the right to the desired indent length.

Your paragraphs should be indented as you move the ruler marker.

Use the Ruler to Indent the Entire Document

• Select Ruler in the Show group (see figure 5).
• Insert your cursor into a paragraph.
• Select the Home tab (see figure 2).
• Select the Select button.
• Select Select All Text With Similar Formatting from the drop-down menu.

This option selects all the paragraphs in the document without selecting other items that are not normally indented, such as headings.

• Slide the First Line Indent marker (top ruler marker) to the right to the desired indent length (see figure 6).

The Paragraph dialog box lets you indent all the paragraphs in your document while also making additional adjustments to alignment and line spacing .

• Select the Select button .
• Select Select All Text with Similar Formatting from the drop-down menu (see figure 7).

All your paragraphs should now be selected.

• Select the dialog box launcher in the Paragraph group (see figure 2).
• Select First line in the Special menu in the Paragraph dialog box.
• Use the increment arrows to adjust the length of the indent in the By text box.
• Make any additional adjustments to alignment or line spacing.

The Paragraph dialog box should close, and your paragraphs should be indented.

Related Resources

How to Change the Unit of Measurement for the Ruler, Margins, and Indents in Microsoft Word

How to Adjust Paragraph Spacing in Microsoft Word

How to Create Hanging Indents in Microsoft Word (Step-by-Step)

Updated September 23, 2023

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When to Indent Paragraphs

Questions about when to indent paragraphs may constitute typographic minutia, but getting it right is important nonetheless, especially if you intend to produce writing that will be professionally published.

Many people believe that every single paragraph in a piece of text should be indented. This is actually unnecessary. You should use indentation to indicate a new paragraph. Given the fact that it is pretty obvious that the first paragraph is a new paragraph, there is absolutely no need to indent it at all.

Robert Bringhurst, author of The Elements of Typographic Style, describes it as follows:

The function of a paragraph indent is to mark a pause, setting the paragraph apart from what precedes it. If a paragraph is preceded by a title or subhead, the indent is superfluous and can therefore be omitted.

His wise words are backed up by the “fount of all knowledge,” Wikipedia : “Professionally printed material typically does not indent the first paragraph, but indents those that follow.”

Of course, as usual with these things, not everyone is in agreement. There are some style guides that say you should always indent the first paragraph in a written document. Take the Associated Press style guide, for instance. They dictate that all paragraphs should be indented. However, do bear in mind that these style guides are intended for newspapers and what is useful for a newspaper may not be appropriate for your written document.

As with many issues of style, it is all about consistency. If you really do insist on indenting the first paragraph, make sure you do so every time.

And one more thing…

Want to make sure your written English is absolutely perfect? Then you have to try Vappingo’s editing services.

6 thoughts on “When to Indent Paragraphs”

And yet…even the Associated Press doesn’t indent paragraphs on their web articles. I can’t believe anyone is still doing this…I just thought indents were passe.

They are pretty much passe. We’ve passed the age where space on paper was a monetary setback. If the indent is to alert the reader to a new paragraph, then it is not needed at all. Especially in this day and age, everyone is kind of tuned to instant messaging and bulleted statements. Information is passed pretty quickly.

But my professor’s don’t believe it, so que sera sera…

Really confused here. Not one indentation in this article.

Paragraphs are not traditionally indented in blog posts. Instead, line breaks are used to separate paragraphs.

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Answered By: Jonathan Faerber (he/him/his) Last Updated: Feb 19, 2022     Views: 192828

APA Style (7th ed.)

Begin every line of text from the left margin, except for the first line of each paragraph. Indent each line of a new paragraph one tab space, which should be set at 1.27 cm or 0.5 in (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 45).

To set up an automatic first line indent, use the appropriate path for your version of Microsoft Word to access the Paragraph formatting options, and under "Indentation", choose “First line” under "Special" and set the indent under "By" to 0.5 in or 1.27 cm. 

Unless directed otherwise by an instructor or a program handbook, double-space “the entire paper, including the title page, abstract, text, headings, block quotations, reference list, table and figure notes, and appendices” (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 45). To see an example of the correcting formatting for paragraphs, please see the paragraphs in the Sample Annotated Student Paper on the American Psychological Association's Sample Papers  web page. 

American Psychological Association. (2020).  Publication manual of the American Psychological Association  (7th ed.).  https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

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Do You Indent Every Paragraph in an Essay?: How to Indent in Microsoft Word

Indenting paragraphs may appear to be a minor formatting choice, much like the font and line spacing choices. However, properly employing indentation gives your paper a more polished appearance and facilitates its readability. It illustrates a flow of thoughts and coherence in your essay.

Nevertheless, many learners and professional writers forgo or do not fully grasp the idea behind the indentation of paragraphs. This article tackles this concept by answering some of the most pertinent questions about this issue. For example, do you indent every paragraph in an essay? When do you indent a paragraph?

Read on to answer these and more fundamental questions, and get a clearer understanding of indentation in writing.

Do You Indent Every Paragraph in an Essay?

When writing an essay, you should indent the first line of every paragraph. Indentation also applies to dissertations, research papers, theses, and term papers. Note that all formatting styles, including APA, MLA, Harvard, and Chicago, demand indentation when writing paragraphs. Every new paragraph you write should have its initial line indented by ½ inch from the left margin.

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Make sure to indent the paragraphs of an essay and exclude the abstract when composing a paper that requires an abstract. Never indent an abstract. When writing it, position the whole paragraph to the left to avoid an indent. Remember, the unique layout of the abstract makes it stand out from the remainder of the work.

Also see: When do you start writing a new paragraph

Nevertheless, indenting every paragraph in your essay is also subject to your institution’s policies and instructor’s guidelines. Some do not require students to indent paragraphs, especially when the essays should be typed. They prefer students to leave empty lines between paragraphs. Line spacing is also effective in making paragraphs coherent and easily distinguishable.

Do You Indent Paragraphs in APA 7th Edition?

Ensure to indent the lines of each paragraph in your essay or paper when writing it in APA 7th Edition style. You only exclude the abstract, which should not be indented.

In this writing style, the introduction and conclusion paragraphs’ initial lines need to be indented. Therefore, ensure to hit the one-tab space key to indent the line by 1/2 inch when starting a new paragraph. In a word document, you can allow automatic indentation to eliminate blanks between paragraphs and position each paragraph to the left.

Additionally, when using a block quote from a text in a direct quotation, you must indent it. This is true if the quotation spans more than three lines. Indent the full quote 1/2 inch from the left margin, and remember to exclude the quotation marks.

However, make sure to arrange your citations with a hanging indent and left-align them in the referencing list. Furthermore, note that the citation and the commentary should both be in a hanging indent when producing an annotated bibliography.

Do You Indent Every Paragraph in MLA?

In your MLA-formatted essay, you must indent each paragraph. Please ensure to read the MLA formatting special writing requirements. You will notice that the formatting style necessitates every essay writer to include a half-inch indent at the first line of every paragraph.

In MLA, you should indent block quotes too. Any quoted text, four lines or more, is considered a block quote. These lengthy quotations are formatted uniquely. The entire block has an indentation that is 1 inch long rather than the typical ½-inch. Remember, the block’s left margin should be constant; avoid indenting the first line further.

When Do You Indent a Paragraph?

Several instances would demand you as a writer to indent paragraphs when writing your essay. Please keep scrolling to learn and understand these instances.

When Shifting from a Concept or a Subtopic to Another

It’s time to create a new paragraph through indentation when the content, facts, details, or thoughts change to address a different aspect of the subject. Therefore, you can indent a paragraph when you want to explore a new concept, slightly independent from the previous paragraph.

The much-despised formatting method of indentation gives readers a sense of order. Readers are informed by indentations when they are about to explore a new subject or begin a new portion of a text. Indenting supports the logical material presentation.

When Shifting from One Setting to another

Using indentation in paragraphs to illustrate a change of setting is most common in narrative essays. When there is a change in time, place, emotion, occasion, date, direction, or dimension, you, as the writer, should indent to let your readers know. Doing so enhances the flow of information and events for your instructor and readers.

When Changing Speakers During a Dialogue

It is vital to indent paragraphs every time characters in your essay have a dialogue. It helps your readers to identify the shifts in speakers and, therefore, appreciate the flow of the dialogue.

How to Indent in Microsoft Word

There are several ways to indent paragraphs in Microsoft Word. Below are two of the most applicable ones and their explanations.

Using the Tab Key to Indent Individual Paragraphs

When using this technique, you press the Tab key after moving the cursor at the start of the topic sentence. Doing so will leave a 1/2-inch indent in the row. Remember, you can raise the indentation by another ½-inch by pressing the Tab button again, and so on.

Using the Ruler Technique

This technique is the fastest if you wish to indent all the paragraphs in your essay as a group. Below is a guideline on how to maneuver through this method

• Go to the ribbon and select the Home tab.
• Put the cursor at the start of a paragraph.
• Move to the Editing group at the top right corner of the page and click “Select.”
• Press the “Select Text with Similar Formatting” from the drop-down menu.
• Then, click the “View tab” in the ribbon.
• In the Show group, choose Ruler.
• Moving the top ruler marker toward the right will find the required indent length.

So, do you indent every paragraph in an essay? Most students are unsure whether to use indentation, despite it being a vital formatting strategy in writing academic papers. Fortunately, this article has clarified most aspects of indentation by answering some of the most fundamental questions on the concept.

Please ensure you write your next essay correctly by utilizing the above information. Additionally, ensure you have appropriately indented your document while you review for inconsistencies and style.

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Indent the first line of a paragraph

To indent the first line of a paragraph, put your cursor at the beginning of the paragraph and press the tab key. When you press Enter to start the next paragraph, its first line will be indented.

Tip:  If you want to change indentation for paragraphs that have already been written, use the tab-key method on the first paragraph, as described above. Then put your cursor at the beginning of the next paragraph. Press Backspace and then Enter. Repeat the process for subsequent paragraphs.

First-line indent by default

If you always want first-line indentation, modify the Normal style:

Put the cursor anywhere in the paragraph.

On the Home tab, right-click the Normal style, and choose Modify .

Select Format , and then choose Paragraph .

On the Indents and Spacing tab, under Indentation , select First line .

Select OK .

Select OK again.

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Step-By-Step Guide to Indent in Microsoft Word

Last Updated: January 26, 2024 Fact Checked

Word 2016/2019/2021 & Microsoft 365

Word 2010/2013.

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA . Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 389,886 times. Learn more...

Do you want Word to indent the first line of every paragraph automatically? Fortunately, Word allows you to set the default to indent your new paragraphs with just a few simple menu changes. This wikiHow article shows you how to indent the first line of every paragraph in Microsoft Word.

Things You Should Know

• To indent lines in Word, right-click the "Normal" style and select "Modify." [1] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
• Click "Format > Paragraph", and select "First line" to indent the first line of each paragraph. [2] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
• Select "New documents based on this template" to make every document you open in Word work like this.

• If you want a bigger indent, change the number under "By" in the "Indentation" section.
• See how it will look with your indentation in the "Preview" window.

• This will not only indent the first line of every existing paragraph but will also indent lines as you write.

• You may do this before you start typing your document or if you have already typed a document. If you already have text in your document, highlight the paragraphs you want indented.

Expert Q&A

• If you want to prevent a line from being indented when this setting is on, hold the Shift key down while pressing Enter. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• In case you changed the appropriate settings but still don't see an indent in existing paragraphs, put your cursor at the beginning of a paragraph and press Backspace and Enter on your keyboard. This will manually add an indent to the line where your cursor is. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/indent-the-first-line-of-a-paragraph-b3721167-e1c8-40c3-8a97-3f046fc72d6d
• ↑ https://columbiacollege-ca.libguides.com/microsoft-word/indentation
• ↑ https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/word/indents-and-tabs/1/

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Would you indent in the first paragraph of a essay?

• Thread starter JohnDR
• Start date Sep 3, 2008

Senior Member

• Sep 3, 2008

If I am going to write five-paragraph essay, should I indent in the first paragraph? I read some articles that they only indent in the 2-5th paragraph. Thank you!  

Feel free to choose either way, JohnDR. Most people won't even notice whether you indent or not.  

post mod (English Only / Latin)

Speaking only for myself, I do not indent the first paragraph of an essay. The purpose of indenting is to show that you have started a new paragraph, which isn't necessary at the beginning of an essay. (This is one generally accepted way to do it. There may be others, of course.)  

It depends. Long ago, we were taught to indent the first line of every paragraph. That still happens in some current styles. In others, there is no indenting. I haven't noticed a mixed style - with the first paragraph indented and others not - but that doesn't mean it isn't common. Can you find out from wherever the essay is going what is expected of you?  

Will you be writing with pen and ink, John, or typewriting? I think it is unusual now to apply indents to printed text at all.  

This is one of the issues that style guides address. If your school or department has a style guide, you should follow it. If it doesn't you should ask the teacher what he prefers. If it is for your own pleasure, choose a style you like and be consistent in applying it.  

• Dec 20, 2010

I asked my student to indent the first line of the paragraph, but the problem is the student does not understand what it means by ' indent'. What is the easy way to explain indent?  

Member Emeritus

piggy94 said: I asked my student to indent the first line of the paragraph, but the problem is the student does not understand what it means by ' indent'. What is the easy way to explain indent? Click to expand...

Moderato con anima (English Only)

I just wanted to say that the lack of indentation after a heading is a common publication style. In an article I just wrote, the publisher (Taylor & Francis), got me to download set 'styles' into my system, and they had something called a 'First paragraph style' and a 'Follow-on paragraph style'. No indentation for the former and indentation for the latter. JohnDR - I don't know why you say that the indentation is only for the 2hd-5th paragraphs . Does that mean that you don't indent the 6th paragraph? That sounds rather bizarre.  

natkretep said: .... JohnDR - I don't know why you say that the indentation is only for the 2hd-5th paragraphs . Does that mean that you don't indent the 6th paragraph? That sounds rather bizarre. Click to expand...