A hanging indent, also known as a second line indent, is a formatting option that indents the second and subsequent lines of a paragraph by a set amount, while keeping the first line flush with the left margin. This formatting is commonly used in bibliographies and reference lists to visually differentiate each entry. Here’s how to create a hanging indent in Google Docs:
- Select the text that you want to format. If you want to format an entire paragraph, click anywhere within the paragraph.
- Click the “Line and Paragraph Spacing” icon in the toolbar. It looks like a four-line icon with small arrows pointing up and down.
- From the drop-down menu, select “Indentation Options.”
- In the “Special” drop-down menu, choose “Hanging.”
- In the “By” field, enter the number of inches you want to indent the second and subsequent lines of the paragraph. The default is 0.5 inches.
- Click “OK” to apply the formatting.
You can also create a hanging indent by using the ruler at the top of the document. Simply click and drag the blue triangles at the top of the ruler to adjust the indentation.
Remember, a hanging indent only applies to the second and subsequent lines of a paragraph. If you want to indent the first line of a paragraph, use the “First Line” indent option in the Indentation Options menu.
In addition to the hanging indent, Google Docs also offers several other indentation options, including left, right, and first line indents. These options can be accessed by using the Indentation Options menu or the ruler at the top of the document.
By using the hanging indent formatting option in Google Docs, you can easily create visually appealing and organized documents, such as bibliographies and reference lists.
