You can create a hanging indent in Microsoft Word by using the paragraph dialog box, the ruler tool, or a keyboard shortcut

. A hanging indent offsets a paragraph’s first line by positioning it at the margin and indenting each subsequent line

. Hanging indents are particularly useful for bibliographies, reference lists, and citations

. Using the Paragraph Dialog Box

1. Select the text where you want to add a hanging indent

2. In the Home tab, find the Paragraph section and click the dialog box launcher (an arrow in the bottom-right corner)

3. In the pop-up box, select the Indents and Spacing tab

4. Under the Indentation section, find the Special drop-down menu and select Hanging

5. Adjust the depth using the By field, if desired

. The standard depth is 0.5 inches (1.27 cm)

6. Click OK

Using the Ruler

1. If the ruler isn’t visible, select the “View” tab and check the “Ruler” option

2. Highlight the text where you want to add a hanging indent

3. On the ruler, drag the First Line Indent marker (the upper triangular marker) to where you want the first line of each paragraph to start (the standard is 1 inch or 2.54cm)

4. Drag the Left Indent marker (the lower triangular marker) to where you want the second and subsequent lines of the selected paragraphs to start. For a hanging indent of 0.5 inches (1.27 cm), position the upper triangular marker at the border and drag the lower triangular marker to the first mark after 1 cm

Using a Keyboard Shortcut

1. Highlight the text you want indented

2. Hold down the Ctrl and T buttons simultaneously