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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.

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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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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.

What Is an Indentation?

Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms

• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

In a composition , an indentation is a blank space between a margin and the beginning of a line of text .

     The beginning of this paragraph is indented. Standard paragraph indentation is about five spaces or one-quarter to one-half of an inch, depending on which style guide you follow. In online writing , if your software doesn't allow indentation, insert a line space to indicate a new paragraph.

The opposite of first-line indentation is a format called hanging indentation . In a hanging indent, all the lines of a paragraph or entry are indented except the first line. Examples of this kind of indentation are found in résumés, outlines , bibliographies , glossaries , and indexes.

Indentation and Paragraphing

• "The whole idea of a paragraph  is to make things easier for the reader. You indent at the beginning of a paragraph to signal, 'Hey, Reader! I'm shifting gears now.' All of the ideas in this paragraph are about the same main thing. ... The indent—a nice big indent of at least half an inch—also makes things easier on the reader's eyes." (Gloria Levine,  The Princeton Review Roadmap to the Virginia SOL . Random House, 2005)
• "The most common use of indentation is at the beginning of a paragraph , where the first line is usually indented five spaces. ... Another use of indentation is in outlining , in which each subordinate entry is indented under its major entry. ... A long quotation [that is, a block quotation ] may be indented in a manuscript instead of being enclosed in quotation marks . The indentation varies, depending on what documentation style you are following. If you are not following a specific style manual , you may block indent one-half inch or ten spaces from both the right and left margins for reports and other documents." (Gerald J. Alred, Charles T. Brusaw, and Walter E. Oliu, The Business Writer's Handbook , 7th ed. Macmillan, 2003)
• "Paragraph structure is part and parcel of the structure of the discourse as a whole; a given [unit of discourse] becomes a paragraph not by virtue of its structure but because the writer elects to indent, his indentation functioning, as does all punctuation , as a gloss upon the overall literary process under way at that point. Paragraphs are not composed; they are discovered. To compose is to create, to indent is to interpret." (Paul Rodgers, Jr., "A Discourse-Centered Rhetoric of the Paragraph." CCC , February 1966)

Formatting for Dialogue

•  "Formatting for dialogue involves several steps: * Use quotation marks before and after the actual spoken words. * Put end punctuation (such as a period ) inside the end quotation mark. * Indent when a new speaker begins." (John Mauk and John Metz,  The Composition of Everyday Life: A Guide to Writing , 5th ed. Cengage, 2016)
•      "Haven't you ever had people coming over and no time to shop? You have to make do with what's in the fridge, Clarice. May I call you Clarice?" "Yes. I think I'll just call you—" "Dr. Lecter—that seems most appropriate to your age and station," he said. (Thomas Harris,  The Silence of the Lambs . St. Martin's, 1988)

The Origin of Paragraph Indentation

• "Paragraph indention, by the way, arises from that habit of early printers, following the practice of scribes, which consists in leaving a blank space for the insertion of a large initial by the illuminator." (Eric Partridge, You Have a Point There: A Guide to Punctuation and Its Allies . Routledge, 1978)
• "By the seventeenth century the indent was the standard paragraph break in Western prose. The rise of printing encouraged the use of space to organize texts. A gap in a printed page feels more deliberate than a gap in a manuscript because it is made by a slug of lead rather than a flux in handwriting." (Ellen Lupton and J. Abbot Miller, Design, Writing, Research . Princeton Architectural Press, 1996)
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Understanding Indentation – What Does ‘Indent’ Mean and How to Use It Correctly

What does indent mean.

Introduction

Indentation plays a crucial role in writing, serving as a visual cue that enhances readability and organization. In this blog post, we will explore the definition, types, correct usage, and importance of indentation in various writing formats, including academic writing, coding and programming, and creative writing. Additionally, we will discuss common mistakes to avoid when using indentation and provide practical tips for achieving consistent and proper indentation in your writing.

Definition of Indentation

In basic terms, indentation refers to the practice of starting a line of text further to the right than the surrounding lines. It is commonly used to visually separate or highlight specific parts of a document, creating a more structured and organized layout. Indentation is widely employed in various forms of writing, such as essays, code scripts, and storytelling.

Why is Indentation Used in Writing?

The main purpose of indentation in writing is to improve readability and comprehension for the readers. By visually separating different parts of the text, indentation helps readers locate and understand the logical flow of information, hierarchy of ideas, and relationships between different sections or elements.

Types of Indentation

There are two primary types of indentation commonly used in writing: block indentation and hanging indentation.

Block Indentation

Block indentation involves indenting an entire block of text or a paragraph further to the right. This indentation style is commonly used in academic writing, where each paragraph is indented to indicate a new section or idea within the larger context of the paper.

Block indentation offers several benefits, including:

• Enhancing visual separation between paragraphs
• Improving clarity and organization of ideas
• Creating a more structured and professional appearance for the document

Hanging Indentation

Hanging indentation is the practice of indenting all lines of a paragraph except for the first line. This indentation style is commonly used in bibliographies, reference lists, and citations, where the first line is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented.

Benefits of hanging indentation include:

• Clearly distinguishing the first line as the beginning of a new entry
• Saving space and reducing clutter in lists or references
• Providing a consistent and professional appearance to the document

How to Use Indentation Correctly

Rules for indentation.

When utilizing indentation in your writing, it is essential to follow certain rules to ensure consistency and clarity:

• Consistency in Indentation: Maintain a consistent indentation style throughout the document. Whether you choose block or hanging indentation, apply it consistently to all relevant sections.
• Match Indentation Level with Content Hierarchy: Indentation should reflect the hierarchical structure of the content. Major sections or headings may have no indentation, while subsections or paragraphs within them can be indented.
• Indent Only Text, Not Other Elements: Avoid indenting images, tables, or other non-textual elements. Indentation should be applied only to textual content, maintaining a clear visual distinction between textual and non-textual elements.

Practical Tips for Indentation

To achieve proper indentation in your writing, consider the following practical tips:

• Utilize Tab Stops or Spaces: Depending on your preferred writing software, you can utilize tab stops or configure spaces to achieve consistent indentation.
• Adjusting Indentation Settings in Word Processors: Most word processors have indentation settings that allow you to customize the indentation style and size. Make use of these settings to match your desired formatting.
• Checking and Correcting Indentation Errors: Before finalizing your document, review the indentation of each paragraph or section to ensure consistency and accuracy. Rectify any indentation errors to maintain a polished and professional appearance.

Importance of Indentation in Different Writing Formats

Indentation in academic writing.

In academic writing, proper indentation is crucial for organizing and structuring ideas effectively. It helps readers differentiate between paragraphs and highlights the logical development of arguments or concepts. Additionally, academic style guides, such as APA or MLA, often require specific indentation formats for citations and reference lists.

Indentation in Coding and Programming

In coding and programming, indentation plays a significant role in improving code readability and maintainability. By indenting code blocks, programmers can quickly identify the hierarchy and nesting of statements, making it easier to debug or modify the code in the future.

Indentation in Creative Writing and Storytelling

Even in creative writing, indentation can be used to enhance the reading experience. It helps authors structure their stories or poems, creating visual breaks between paragraphs or stanzas. Indentation can also help indicate dialogue, emphasize certain phrases, or guide the reader’s attention to specific details or twists in the narrative.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

While indentation is a useful formatting tool, it is essential to avoid common mistakes that can negatively impact the readability and aesthetics of your writing:

• Over-Indentation: Excessive indentation can make the text appear cluttered or unclear. Avoid over-indenting paragraphs and instead, strive for a subtle and visually appealing indentation style.
• Under-Indentation: Insufficient or inconsistent indentation can lead to confusion and make it challenging for readers to follow the structure or logical flow of your writing. Ensure that each relevant section or paragraph is adequately indented.
• Mixing Indentation Styles: Mixing block and hanging indentation within the same document can create visual inconsistencies and confuse readers. Stick to a single indentation style for a given context or formatting requirement.

In conclusion, understanding and implementing proper indentation is crucial for improving the readability, organization, and overall impact of your writing. By following the rules of consistency, matching content hierarchy, and avoiding common mistakes, you can enhance the clarity and comprehension of your documents in various writing formats.

So, the next time you embark on an academic essay, code script, or creative writing piece, remember the power of indentation and its ability to guide readers smoothly through your content. Start applying proper indentation techniques today, and witness the positive impact it has on your writing!

Related posts:

• Mastering CSS Indentation – How to Perfectly Indent Paragraphs for a Polished Look
• Mastering HTML Tab Indentation – Tips and Tricks for Clean Code Structure
• Mastering HTML – The Ultimate Guide to Creating Effective Paragraph Breaks
• Mastering Python Indentation – How to Fix Unexpected Indent Errors
• Mastering Python Indentation – A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Indent in Python

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Paragraphing

• Guide to Punctuation
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75 Paragraphs, Indents, No-indents and Poetry

The section describes how you can do various things with paragraph styling, including:

How to set your whole document so that paragraphs skip lines instead of indent

How to force a non-indented paragraph.

• How to force an indented paragraph
• How to make a soft return/line-break … without getting an indent or a line skip
• A suggestion of how to format poetry

First: Some Background about Paragraphs and Pressbooks

You don’t normally see this, but when your book is exported (in the Web preview, to PDF, EPUB or MOBI), a new paragraph is wrapped in a special <p> tag that tells the output: this is a paragraph! Please style me! In most cases, for print and ebooks (as is traditional with most books you’ll find on your shelf), a new paragraph is denoted in the text by a new line and an indent. Sometimes that’s not the case though.

For instance, in a book you might see something like this.

Here is the first sentence in a paragraph. Here is a second sentence. And another, longer third sentence, which we will make long enough so that we are sure it will wrap around to the next line.

Here is then next line of the paragraph. You will notice that this paragraph is indented.

How do we make paragraphs behave properly in Pressbooks? When the paragraphs are exported they are wrapped like this, which tells the PDF or Ebook how they should be styled.

This is default behaviour (which can be changed, see below) for: * PDF output in Pressbooks * EPUB/MOBI output in Pressbooks

Paragraphs are ALWAYS displayed with a line space in web form and in the visual editor.

However … IMPORTANT!! … Paragraphs are NOT displayed like this in the Web preview AND in the Pressbooks editor . Instead, in the Pressbooks Editor, paragraph separation is denoted with a line between the paragraphs, so they will look like this:

Here is a new paragraph in the WEB preview AND the Editor. You will notice that this paragraph is NOT indented.

The paragraph tag wrapping and formatting happens on export.

Here’s what you might see in the TEXT editor of Pressbooks:

Paragraphs in the Text Editor

<h2>Here is a heading</h2>

This is a first paragraph after a heading, which won't be indented on exports.

This is a second paragraph, which will be indented.

This is a single paragraph, With a soft return for the second line. You can tell this is a "soft" return, because there is no line space.

By inserting two carriage returns, we've made this a new paragraph, which you know because there is a blank line above it. This is just another sentence in the same paragraph. On export, this paragraph will be wrapped in a <p> tag. All paragraphs will. And this paragraph will be indented in exports.

And all that will render on output as … :

Here is a heading.

This is a first paragraph after a heading, which won’t be indented on exports.

This is a single paragraph, With a soft return for the second line. You can tell this is a “soft” return, because there is no line space.

By inserting two carriage returns, we’ve made this a new paragraph, which you know because there is a blank line above it. This is just another sentence in the same paragraph. On export, this paragraph will be wrapped in a <p> tag. All paragraphs will. And this paragraph will be indented in exports.

Certain kinds of books look better without indented paragraphs, and instead have paragraphs denoted with a blank space between the end of one and beginning of next. To apply this styling to your whole book, follow the following steps:

You may wish to set a particular paragraph or set of paragraphs with NO indent. You can do this in a couple of ways:

1. Using the TEXT Editor, make sure all the paragraphs you don’t want indented have the following tag:

<p class="no-indent">A first paragraph</p>

<p class="no-indent">A second paragraph.</p>

2. Using the Visual Editor:

a. Highlight/select the paragraphs you want to display with no indents / line space between them.

b. From the toolbar, select Formats –> No indent.

And you are done!

See the screengrab below:

Soft Returns/Line Breaks

One thing you might want is to add a soft return in a body header. This is what it looks like in the TEXT editor:

Soft return/line break in a body header

<h2>Sometimes you want a linebreak or soft return in a body header. This is what it looks like</h2>

Other times you want a soft return in a regular paragraph. You'll have to do these in the TEXT editor.

Whereas this is a full new paragraph, that’s long enough to see a wrapping line, on most screens anyway.

And this will give you something like:

Sometimes you want a linebreak or soft return in a body header. This is what it looks like

Other times you want a soft return in a regular paragraph. You’ll have to do these in the TEXT editor.

For poetry, we suggest you do three things: a) wrap the whole poem in a blockquote b) wrap each stanza in <p class="no-indent"> c) and then each line in the stanza is just a soft return

Note that <p class="no-indent"> does TWO things: 1. removes the indent on the paragraph 2. adds a space above the paragraph to separate it from the previous text

So your poem would look like this in the TEXT editor:

Which will render something like this on export:

A stranger has come To share my room in the house not right in the head, A girl mad as birds Bolting the night of the door with her arm her plume. Strait in the mazed bed She deludes the heaven-proof house with entering clouds Yet she deludes with walking the nightmarish room, At large as the dead, Or rides the imagined oceans of the male wards. . . . . . . . . And taken by light in her arms at long and dear last I may without fail Suffer the first vision that set fire to the stars. -Dylan Thomas

Montgomery College Pressbooks Guide Copyright © 2012 by Book Oven Inc. (Pressbooks.com) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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ENG 1002 Writing Resources | R. Rambo Home Page

English Composition 2

The proper format for essays.

Below are guidelines for the formatting of essays based on recommendations from the MLA (the Modern Language Association).

• Fonts : Your essay should be word processed in 12-point Times New Roman fonts.
• Double space : Your entire essay should be double spaced, with no single spacing anywhere and no extra spacing anywhere. There should not be extra spaces between paragraphs.
• Heading : In the upper left corner of the first page of your essay, you should type your name, the instructor's name, your class, and the date, as follows: Your Name Mr. Rambo ENG 1002-100 24 February 2017
• Margins : According to the MLA, your essay should have a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, left, and right. However, for this course, just keep the default margins in Word.
• Page Numbers : Your last name and the page number should appear in the upper right corner of each page of your essay, including the first page, as in Jones 3 . Insert your name and the page number as a "header." Do not type this information where the text of your essay should be.
• Title : Your essay should include a title. The title should be centered and should appear under the heading information on the first page and above the first line of your essay. The title should be in the same fonts as the rest of your essay, with no quotation marks, no underlining, no italics, and no bold.
• Indentation : The first line of each paragraph should be indented. According to the MLA, this indentation should be 1/2 inch or five spaces, but pressing [Tab] once should give you the correct indentation.

Putting all of the above together, you should have a first page that looks like the following:

Copyright Randy Rambo , 2019.

• Presentation and Formatting

To Indent or Not to Indent Paragraphs

Chelsea, a reader of my monthly e-newsletter, Better Writing at Work,  asked me to write about indenting paragraphs in business letters . She wrote, “When writing letters, what is the ‘proper’ protocol on indenting?”

There are several proper ways to format a traditional business letter. Only one of them indents paragraphs, and it is not popular these days. I have described three ways below.

Modern and sleek: the full-block style.

These days most business letters follow the full-block style, with nothing indented. In this style, everything (the date, inside address, salutation, body, close, and signature block) begins at the left margin. The only content that might be indented in the full-block style is bullet points or long quotes. Both of those would be indented as a block, though, not just the first line, like this:

This is an example of a paragraph that is block indented. The whole paragraph is indented, not just the first line.

Most businesses use the full-block style because it is easy to type–no indenting! Also, it looks modern and sleek on the page.

Less modern and sleek: the modified-block style.

Paragraphs are not indented in the modified-block style. However, the date, closing, and signature block are indented–to begin at the center of the line. It requires the business writer or typist to create a template with the correct indention of the date, closing, and signature block. Some organizations use this style, which looks neat but not sleek.

Fussy and dated looking: the modified-block style with indented paragraphs.

The only style with indented paragraphs is known as “the modified-block style with indented paragraphs.” In it, the date, closing, and signature block begin at the center, as in the modified-block style. However, each paragraph is indented a half-inch (1.27 cm). This is the fussiest looking letter, with no sleek lines. It is not popular these days but was common decades ago.

If your organization wants to come across as up to date and elegant, choose the full-block style. If you want to appear up to date yet a bit traditional, consider the modified-block style. If you want to appear traditional and old-fashioned, the modified-block style with indented paragraphs might work, but remember that it doesn’t look elegant.

Some letterhead is already very left-heavy. If your company’s letter is designed with a very strong left line, you might want to use the modified-block style for a more balanced look. Check with your communications department.

Before anyone asks, the answer is no–paragraphs are NOT indented in email . On the screen, people focus on the left margin, so it makes no sense to indent paragraphs in email.

Chelsea, I hope this post answers your question. To indent or not to indent paragraphs? It’s up to you.

Thank you very much for replying to my question. I am always learning so much from you and I really appreciate it!

You’re welcome! Thanks for letting me know you read the post.

There are many styles of writing and one completely differ from the other and different organizations follow different styles. Before starting to write, one should learn the style of that particular firm.

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Fonts for Business Communications

Readability – Why It’s Important

Proper Business Letter Format

Sourcing and Placing Images in Business Presentations

Choosing the Length of a Paragraph

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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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FOR EDITORS, PROOFREADERS AND WRITERS

• REPORT: The Outsider , Stephen King, Hodder, 2018, p. 252
• LIST: Life of Pi , Yann Martel, Canongate, 2002, p. 146
• TRANSCRIPT: Snap , Belinda Bauer, Black Swan, 2018, p. 36
• RECORD: Ready Player One , Ernest Cline, Arrow, 2012, p. 300

• Open the Home tab (1).
• Select your text.
• Move your cursor to the ruler and select the top marker (2).
• Drag it to the position of your preferred indent.
• Right-click on the style in the ribbon (3).
• S elect 'Update Normal to Match Selection'. ​
• Open the Styles pane via the arrow icon (4).
• Go  to the Styles pane (5) and right-click on the style (6).
• Select 'Update Normal to Match Selection'.​ ​

• Go to the Styles pane (5) and right-click on the style (6).
• Select 'Modify' to open the Modify Styles pane (A).
• Click on the Format button in the bottom left-hand corner (B).
• Select Paragraph to open the Paragraph pane (C).
• Make sure you're in the Indents and Spacing tab.
• Look at the Indentations section in the middle. Make sure 'First line' is selected under 'Special:' (D).
• Adjust the first-line indent according to your preference (E).
• Click OK (F).

• If using the ruler, ensure the markers (2) are aligned, one on top of the other.
• If using the styles pane, adjust the indent spacing (E) to zero.

This is so useful. Thank you so much.

You're welcome, Neetu!

As a former librarian I insisted our writing group's self-published anthologies (that I was formatting) conformed to traditional convention (title page and reverse, fiction indents, section separators with blank reverse and all chapters on a new page...) but I see so many indie published books that don't , not to mention self-published paperbacks and e-books, that I wonder how long this will be the norm. It does identify the indies from the traditional publishers, which seems a shame, since the content can be comparable.

Hi, Cathy. I think it often depends where the budget's going. Not all indies invest in a pro interior designer; they do it themselves. And if they don't know the conventions, they'll not bother. Good design should improve reader experience so I do think it's worth attending to the basics. Your group's lucky to have you!

This is most helpful. I was not aware of the convention of no indentation for the beginning of a chapter and change of scene, time etc. Thank you.

Glad it helped, Vivienne!

This is so clearly written and informative. It was a huge help to me. Thank you!

Can you advise whether or not to indent at the start of a new section (not a new chapter) when the first line of the section is a line of dialogue. At present I am choosing not to indent in keeping with the new section format but is this correct? Thank you.

Hi, Danielle. See the post above - the section on dialogue layout: "​The same applies even if the chapter *or section* starts with dialogue." Your current choice is therefore what I'd recommend. HTH.

Thank you very much - this is most helpful. Just shows I should have read your advice more carefully in the first place!

I am confused whether I should indent the first line of a new page or not?

If a new chapter or section falls on a new page = no indent. If it's just a new paragraph that falls on a new page = indent. Hope that helps!

Great article! I'd like to know if the same rule should be in non fiction where it is mostly narrative? Or is it better to have no indentions at all. I'm designing a book interior for a non fiction, still a story, and I went with no indention but I'm wondering if I should indent it after all.

That's a style choice, Chip. You could have no indents but separate each paragraph with a space: Xxxxxxx, xxxxx xxxx xxxxxx xxxx xxx. Xxxxxxx, xxxxx xxxx xxxxxx xxxx xxx. That's quite common in non-fic. If, however, the text is formatted so that the paragraphs run on, it's common to go down the route I've outlined above.

Hi Louise The very first lines of my prologue are: She could hardly hear herself laugh and who could blame her? She could hardly hear her own childish thoughts and who could blame her? For Saturday it was, it truly was etc etc Now, do I full out the first line and indent the second “She could . . “? I tried this and it just looks untidy on the page, to my eyes anyway. “For Saturday etc” Is the start of a new para so will be indented but those first two lines are giving me a headache. I’d appreciate help here and thank you in advance!

Yes, I would push the first line full out, and indent the second. Pull down some fiction off your shelf and have a look at how mainstream publishers do it.

I will take your advice. Thank you again Louise!

Hi Louise, What a great article, so clearly written and solved my dilemna with indenting. Just joined the mailing list and will have a good look around your site, as no doubt other questions I have will be answered too! Cheers, Maddy Newman

So helpful. I couldn't find the part about not indenting dialogue in the first line anywhere. Thank you for the thorough breakdown and examples.

Hi, Rebecca. Look at the subheading DIALOGUE LAYOUT. It's immediatley below.

Hey Louise, thank you very much for this article, It helped me a lot, especially since I'm translating my German novel into English right now. There is still one open question for me and I really hope you can help me with it: Here is an example/ little excerpt of my novel, which I already translated but kept the German Formatting. I am asking myself if the colon can stay like this ( Then she said: ) or do I have to replace it with a comma ( Then she said, ) and begin with the dialogue in the next line. _____________________________________________________________ After my mother echoed Michael's exact words, she looked at me with a fixed gaze for several seconds. Then she said: “Do you understand now, Jimmy, why I opened my eyes so wide just now?” “Yes... I feel as if he is here right now, Mother. I know him, but I don‘t know from where...” “But now I really want to ask you, were you aware of his words, Jimmy?” ____________________________________________________ I really hope that you can help me with this little question - it would help me A LOT! :) Greetings from Germany Yannic

Hello, Yannic I saw that your question hasn't received an answer yet, so I thought to help out. I believe placing 'Then she said' on the same line as the dialogue might read better. Then she said, "Do you understand now, Jimmy, why I opened my eyes so wide just now?" Dialogue tags can come before or after a dialogue, and in your case, it comes before. The comma makes it flow better. I hope this helps.

So helpful thanks! As a first time author I was quite confused about indenting and quickly searching the Internet your blog came up. Very clear and helpful thanks for posting.

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How to Indent in Word 2019: A Step-by-Step Guide

Indenting paragraphs in Word 2019 is a breeze. All you need to do is select the text you want to indent, find the “Paragraph” settings, and use the indentation options. With just a few clicks, you can customize the indentation to fit the style and flow of your document perfectly. Let’s dive into the step-by-step tutorial to indent like a pro!

Step by Step Tutorial on How to Indent in Word 2019

Before we get started, it’s important to understand that indenting can organize your document and make it easier to read. By following these steps, you’ll learn how to create a professional-looking document with properly indented paragraphs.

Step 1: Select the text you want to indent

Click and drag your cursor over the text you wish to indent.

Once you’ve selected the text, it’s ready for indentation. Make sure you only select the text that needs indenting, as these settings will apply only to your highlighted section.

Step 2: Access the Paragraph settings

Right-click on the selected text and choose “Paragraph” from the context menu, or navigate to the “Layout” tab on the Word ribbon and find the “Paragraph” group.

The “Paragraph” settings are where all the magic happens. This is where you can adjust alignment, spacing, and, of course, indentation for your selected text.

Step 3: Adjust the indentation options

In the “Paragraph” dialog box, look for the “Indentation” section and choose your desired settings.

You’ll see options for “Left” and “Right” indentation, as well as “Special” indentation options like “First line” or “Hanging”. Adjust these settings to your liking to control how your text is indented.

Step 4: Apply the changes

Once you’ve set your indentation preferences, click “OK” to apply them to your selected text.

After clicking “OK,” you’ll see your text repositioned with the new indentation settings. It’s that simple!

After completing these steps, your document will have neatly indented paragraphs that enhance readability and give it a polished look.

Tips for Indenting in Word 2019

• Use the ruler bar at the top of your Word document to visually adjust the indentation of your paragraphs.
• For consistent formatting, consider using Styles in Word to apply the same indentation to multiple paragraphs.
• Remember that “First line” indent is great for starting new paragraphs, while “Hanging” indent is often used for bibliographies or references.
• If you’re working with a bulleted or numbered list, indentation settings will affect the positioning of your list markers.
• To quickly increase or decrease indentation, you can use the “Increase Indent” and “Decrease Indent” buttons in the “Paragraph” group on the “Home” tab.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i indent an entire document at once.

Yes, by pressing “Ctrl + A” to select all text and then applying the indentation settings.

Indenting the whole document can give it a uniform look, but make sure that’s what you really want before applying the settings to everything.

How do I set default indentation for new documents?

Adjust the indentation settings and then click “Set as Default” in the “Paragraph” dialog box to use these settings for new documents.

Setting a default indentation can save you time by ensuring all new documents start with your preferred settings.

Is there a keyboard shortcut for indenting?

Yes, you can use “Ctrl + M” to increase indent and “Ctrl + Shift + M” to decrease indent.

Keyboard shortcuts can be a fast and efficient way to adjust indentation without navigating through menus.

Can I use indentation in tables?

Yes, you can indent text within table cells using the same “Paragraph” settings.

Indenting in tables can help you organize and differentiate between different sets of data or information.

What’s the difference between indenting and tabbing?

Indenting is a paragraph format that affects the entire paragraph, while tabbing only moves the cursor to the next tab stop.

Understanding the difference can help you decide which method to use for your specific formatting needs.

• Select the text you want to indent.
• Access the Paragraph settings.
• Adjust the indentation options.
• Apply the changes.

Mastering the art of indentation in Word 2019 can take your documents from drab to fab. Whether you’re a student looking to impress your professor or a professional aiming to present polished reports, knowing how to indent properly can make all the difference. Remember, the key is to be consistent with your formatting to maintain a clean and organized look throughout your document. Experiment with different indentation styles to find what works best for your needs and don’t be afraid to use the tips and shortcuts provided to streamline the process. Now that you’re armed with this knowledge, go ahead and give your documents the indentation they deserve. Happy formatting!

Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.

After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.

His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.

Read his full bio here.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, indentation on the common app essay: how to.

Anyone figured out how to format your essay on the Common App? I’ve been trying to indent my paragraphs but it doesn't seem to work. Could really use some advice or tips on how to make my essay look clean with proper indents. Thanks in advance!

The Common App essay text box does not allow for tab-indented paragraphs. What you can do is use the space bar to create manual indents, but this can lead to inconsistent spacing and is not generally recommended. The best practice is to separate paragraphs with a single blank line. This visual space is enough for the admissions officers to recognize the start of a new paragraph. Also, make sure the rest of your formatting is clean – no bold or italics unless absolutely necessary for understanding the content of your essay.

Admissions officers are focused on the substance of your essay, not fancy formatting, and clear, readable text is always the goal. Lastly, use a simple font like Times New Roman or Arial to ensure that your essay is easily readable when admissions officers review your application. Don't worry too much about indenting; focus on conveying your message in a well-organized and compelling manner.

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