How to Do a Hanging Indent in Word: Complete Guide for Students (2026)

Hanging Indent in Microsoft Word is a type of formatting style in which the first line of a paragraph has the left margin, while all subsequent lines are indented. This formatting style is required for academic bibliographies, references, and works cited pages in APA, MLA, and Chicago citation styles. 

How to Do a Hanging Indent in Word?

Hanging Indent makes reference lists easier to scan by allowing readers to identify the beginning of each citation. UK university students use this formatting style when formatting their dissertations, research papers, and essay reference pages.

Method 1: Using the Paragraph Dialogue Box

The paragraph dialogue box method works consistently across all Word versions and offers precise control over indentation measurements. 

Steps to Do a Hanging  Indent in Word using the Paragraph Dialogue Box

1. Select the text you want to format with a hanging indent
2. Click the Home tab in the ribbon
3. Click the small arrow icon (dialogue launcher) in the bottom-right corner of the Paragraph group
4. Under Special, select Hanging from the dropdown menu
5. Set the indentation depth to 0.5 inches (the standard for most academic styles)
6. Click OK to apply the formatting

Method 2: Using the Ruler Tool

Many university students find this method intuitive, and the ruler tool method provides a visual, drag-and-drop approach. 

Steps to Do a Hanging  Indent in Word using the Ruler Tool

1. Enable the ruler by clicking the View tab and checking the Ruler box
2. Select your paragraph or citation text
3. Locate the triangular markers on the left side of the ruler (the top triangle is the First Line Indent marker, and the bottom triangle is the Hanging Indent marker)
4. Drag the bottom triangular marker to the right to set where subsequent lines should begin (typically 0.5 inches)
5. Keep the top marker at the left margin position

Method 3: Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest Method)

Working on multiple citations, the keyboard shortcut offers the quickest solution for students. 

Steps to Do a Hanging  Indent in Word using the Keyboard Shortcut

1. Highlight the text requiring a hanging indent
2. Press Ctrl + T on Windows or Cmd + T on Mac
3. The hanging indent applies automatically with a default 0.5-inch indentation
4. To remove or decrease the indent, press Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + T (Mac)

Creating Hanging Indents in Word for Mac

Mac users follow a different path through the Format menu. 

Steps to Create Hanging Indents in Word For Mac

1. Select your citation or reference text
2. Click Format in the top menu bar
3. Choose Paragraph from the dropdown
4. Under Special, select Hanging
5. Adjust the By field to your required depth (typically 0.5 inches)
6. Click OK to confirm

Using Hanging Indents in Word Online

Microsoft Word's web version supports hanging indents through formatting options. 

Steps to Create Hanging Indents in Word Online

1. Open your document in Word Online through your Microsoft account
2. Highlight the text for formatting
3. Click the three-dot icon (More options) in the toolbar
4. Select Special Indent, then choose Hanging
5. The indent applies immediately to your selected text

Common Applications for UK University Students

UK university students encounter numerous academic contexts regularly in which hanging indents are mandatory formatting requirements. 

Reference Pages: For bibliography entries, APA, MLA, Harvard, and Chicago citation styles all require hanging indents, making this skill essential for dissertations and essays. 

Annotated Bibliographies: Second line indentation helps distinguish between different sources and their annotations. 

Works Cited Lists: MLA format mandates hanging indents for all cited sources. Literature and humanities assignments use MLA format. 

Tips for Perfect Hanging Indents

Ensure each citation entry has a hard return only after the complete entry, not after each line within an entry. For a hard return, press Enter. To view paragraph marks, enable the show/hide ¶ button in the Home tab. Also, confirm proper formatting before submission. For large documents with multiple reference sections, to maintain consistency throughout your dissertation, create a paragraph style with hanging indent formatting. 

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, hanging indent doesn't apply. In this case, check you have selected the entire paragraph, including the paragraph mark at the end. Ensure you are dragging the correct market (top for first line, bottom for hanging indent) when ruler markers won't move independently. If you face a problem with keyboard shortcuts, check that your cursor is positioned within the paragraph before pressing the key combination. 

Need Help with Your University Assignments?

At Workingment, we understand the challenges that students face with formatting requirements, citations, and academic writing standards. Our university assignment writers deliver formatted assignments and dissertations. Contact us today for high-quality assignment writing services.