How To Fix Triple Spacing On A Mac

This tutorial shows how to accommodate paragraph spacing in Word for Mac. We volition brainstorm by irresolute the spacing earlier and afterward individual paragraphs. And then, we will suit the space earlier and after all the paragraphs in a document.

Don't miss the brief word at the end about Word's built-in paragraph spacing options—and why you may not want to use them.

These steps don't touch on the line spacing within the paragraphs. Nosotros will cover line spacing in Word for Mac in a separate tutorial.

Table of Contents

How to Adjust the Space Before and After Individual Paragraphs
How to Adjust the Space Earlier and After All Paragraphs
What nigh the Built-In Paragraph Spacing Options?

This tutorial's companion video shows all the steps in real time.

Watch more than than 150 other writing-related software tutorials on my YouTube channel.

The images beneath are from Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac. These steps too apply to Word 2021 for Mac, Word 2019 for Mac, and Word 2016 for Mac.

Are you on a PC? Please see "How to Adjust Paragraph Spacing in Microsoft Word."

How to Adjust the Space Earlier and Later Individual Paragraphs

Select the Home tab.

Home tab in Word for Mac — Figure 1. Domicile tab

(Optional) Select the Show/Hide push to reveal your formatting marks, including paragraph marks.

Select the paragraph or paragraphs yous want to conform.

Selected paragraphs in Word for Mac — Figure 3. Selected paragraphs

Select the Line and Paragraph Spacing button.

Figure 4. Line and Paragraph Spacing button

Select Line Spacing Options from the drop-downwards menu.

Line Spacing Options in Word for Mac — Figure v. Line Spacing Options

Enter an amount into the Before or After text box in the Paragraph dialog box.

Pro Tip: Avert entering numbers in the Before and After text boxes at the aforementioned time because multiple adjustments may crusade unwanted results.

Before and After text boxes in the Paragraph dialog box in Word for Mac — Figure vi. Before and After text boxes

Ensure that Don't add together space betwixt paragraphs of the same fashion is non selected.

"Don't add space between paragraphs of the same style" option in the Paragraph dialog box in Word for Mac — Figure 7. Don't add space between paragraphs of the same style option

Select the OK push button.

OK button in the Paragraph dialog box — Figure 8. OK button

The spacing should be adjusted for the selected paragraph(s).

Selected paragraphs with spacing adjustments in Word for Mac — Figure 9. Selected paragraphs with spacing adjustments

How to Adapt the Space Before and Afterward All Paragraphs

This process adjusts the paragraph spacing for the unabridged document without affecting heading spacing.

Identify your cursor in one of your paragraphs.
Select the Dwelling tab (see figure 2).
Select the Styles Pane push button.

Styles Pane button in Word for Mac — Effigy 10. Styles Pane push

Your paragraph fashion (which is usually "Normal") will be automatically selected in the Styles Pane.

Select the Select All push.

Select All button in the Styles Pane in Word for Mac — Figure eleven. Select All push button

Your paragraphs should be selected, simply your headings should not exist selected.

Select the Line and Paragraph Spacing button (see figure iv).
Select Line Spacing Options from the driblet-down card (run into figure 5).
Enter an corporeality into the Earlier or Later text box in the Paragraph dialog box (see figure 6).

Pro Tip: Avoid entering numbers in the Earlier and After text boxes at the aforementioned time because multiple adjustments may cause unwanted results.

Ensure that Don't add space betwixt paragraphs of the same style is not selected (see effigy 7).
Select the OK button (run across figure 8).

The spacing should be adjusted for all the paragraphs in the document. The heading spacing should not be affected.

Paragraphs with spacing adjustments in while document in Word for Mac — Effigy 12. Paragraphs with spacing adjustments

Select the 10 to close the Styles Pane.

Closing X in the Styles Pane in Word for Mac — Effigy 13. Endmost X

What nigh the Born Paragraph Spacing Options?

The Paragraph Spacing menu in the Design tab includes six born options. You lot can use these options instead of custom paragraph spacing. However, these options will also adjust the line spacing within your paragraphs.

Built-in paragraph spacing options in Word for Mac — Effigy 14. Built-in paragraph spacing options

Related Resources

How to Create a Custom Heading Fashion in Word for Mac

How to Adjust the Space betwixt Words in Give-and-take for Mac