How to Double Space in Microsoft Word for APA Format

To double-space an APA paper in Microsoft Word, select the document text, then choose Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > 2.0. For a clean APA layout, also set paragraph spacing before and after to 0 pt. This applies double spacing without adding extra blank-looking gaps between paragraphs; check any tables separately because APA permits different spacing inside table cells.

What You’ll Need

A copy of your paper open in Microsoft Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows.
Your instructor’s directions, if they add requirements beyond APA Style. The steps below follow common APA 7 student-paper formatting.
A few minutes to inspect the title page, body, headings, quotations, and references after applying the setting.

Step-by-Step

Save a working copy. Before changing formatting across a full paper, save the file. Use File > Save As if you want to keep an untouched original. This is especially useful if the document contains tables, footnotes, or carefully formatted sections that you may need to restore.
Select the text you want to format. Click in the main body of the document and press Ctrl+A on Windows. This selects the document text. If Word selects only the contents of a table or another object, click in an ordinary paragraph outside it and press Ctrl+A again. If you only need to format part of the paper, drag across those paragraphs instead. For a standard student paper, select the title page, abstract if included, main text, and reference list so the same setting is applied consistently.
Open the line-spacing menu. On the ribbon, choose Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing. The button is in the Paragraph group and usually looks like horizontal lines with vertical arrows. Select 2.0 from the menu. The selected text should now have twice the usual line spacing. You can also use the Windows shortcut Ctrl+2; on Mac, the equivalent in Word is Command+2.
Set paragraph spacing before and after to zero. Double line spacing and paragraph spacing are separate settings. With the text still selected, open the Paragraph dialog by clicking the small dialog-box launcher at the lower-right corner of the Paragraph group on the Home tab. Under Indents and Spacing, find the Spacing section. Set Before to 0 pt and After to 0 pt, then click OK. This prevents Word from inserting extra space between paragraphs in addition to the required double spacing.
Check that line spacing is set to Double in the dialog. In the same Paragraph dialog, find Line spacing and choose Double if it is not already selected. Click OK. Using the dialog gives you a way to confirm all three relevant settings: Double line spacing, zero space before, and zero space after. Avoid choosing a multiple value such as 2.0 if the dialog offers a clearly labeled Double option; the named setting is straightforward and easy to verify.
Review the whole paper, not just the first page. Scroll through the title page, body, headings, block quotations, and reference list. Look for paragraphs that appear tighter or more spread out than the rest. APA papers are generally double-spaced throughout, including the title page and reference entries. A table’s cell text may use single, 1.5, or double spacing when needed for readability, so inspect tables individually rather than forcing awkward spacing into a dense table.
Check styles if some paragraphs did not change. Word styles can carry paragraph settings of their own. Click in a paragraph that looks different and open the Paragraph dialog to check its values. You can adjust that paragraph directly, or modify the style if many paragraphs using that style are affected. To edit a style in Word for Windows, right-click its name in the Home > Styles gallery, choose Modify, then use Format > Paragraph to set Double spacing and 0 pt before and after. Confirm before applying a style change, since it can affect every paragraph that uses that style.

On Word for Mac: The ribbon labels are similar. Select the text, use Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > 2.0, and open the Paragraph settings to set spacing before and after to 0 pt. The dialog may be opened through Format > Paragraph depending on the Word for Mac layout. Use Command+A to select document text and Command+2 for double spacing. Menu placement can vary slightly with the app version, but the settings are the same.

Common Mistakes

Adding blank lines instead of setting line spacing. Pressing Enter twice between paragraphs creates extra paragraph breaks, not APA double spacing. It can make the document look uneven and may leave large gaps if line spacing is later corrected. Use the line-spacing setting, and keep one paragraph break between paragraphs.

Confusing double spacing with space after a paragraph. Word may apply spacing after paragraphs through a style or document default. A document can therefore have double-spaced lines plus an additional gap after every paragraph. Setting Before and After to 0 pt helps prevent this. The blank area between paragraphs should not look like an extra empty line.

Formatting only the body text. It is easy to select the main essay but miss the title page, abstract, or references. If the assignment follows standard APA student-paper rules, check these sections too. The running page number or other header content may need separate attention because it is not always included when selecting the main document text.

Using the wrong spacing value. Single and 1.5 spacing are not the same as double spacing. Check for the named Double setting or the 2.0 option, rather than relying on how the page looks on screen. Zoom level and font choice can make spacing appear misleading.

Overriding a setting with a style or pasted text. Pasted material may bring formatting from another file, and a heading style can use different paragraph spacing from the body style. After pasting or changing a style, check the affected paragraphs again. Do not assume that changing the whole document once prevents later formatting changes.

Tips

Use the Paragraph dialog when you need a dependable, document-wide result. The 2.0 menu command is quick, but the dialog lets you check line spacing and paragraph gaps together. If you are preparing a template, set the Normal style and any heading styles you plan to use before writing. That way, new paragraphs are less likely to revert to a different spacing pattern.

Keep APA spacing separate from other APA requirements. Double spacing does not set the margins, font, page numbers, heading levels, title-page information, or reference-list hanging indents. Check your instructor’s directions and the current APA guidance for those items. For example, a correctly double-spaced reference list can still need a hanging indent, which is a separate paragraph setting.

Use Word’s formatting marks to find accidental empty paragraphs. On Windows, select Home > ¶ in the Paragraph group, or press Ctrl+Shift+8. On Mac, the shortcut is generally Command+8. Each paragraph mark represents an Enter key press. Remove unwanted empty paragraphs, then turn the marks off by selecting the button again or using the shortcut. This is more reliable than trying to judge extra gaps by eye.

When working with a long paper, format a small sample first. Apply the settings to a few paragraphs and inspect the result, particularly if the document has unusual styles or tables. Once the result looks right, apply it to the full text. If the paper is already written, save a copy before selecting everything so you can recover the original layout if needed.

For tables, prioritize readable content and follow assignment directions. APA allows table body spacing to be adjusted to fit the information, while the surrounding text and table number, title, and notes should be checked against the applicable APA requirements. Avoid shrinking text or forcing double spacing into cells if that makes a table difficult to read.

Troubleshooting

The page still looks single-spaced. Click in a paragraph that looks wrong and open the Paragraph dialog. Confirm that Line spacing says Double. If it does, compare the appearance at a different zoom level and check whether the font or paragraph style differs. Also verify that you applied the change to the paragraph itself rather than only selecting a nearby line.

There is a large gap between paragraphs. Select the affected paragraphs and set Before and After to 0 pt in the Paragraph dialog. Turn on formatting marks to see whether an empty paragraph is also creating a gap. Delete only the unintended extra paragraph mark; do not remove the normal paragraph break separating two paragraphs.

Only some pages changed. The selection may not have included the full document, or the paper may use sections, text boxes, or separate content areas. Repeat the selection from the main document body and inspect each section. Text in headers, footers, footnotes, and text boxes may need to be selected and formatted separately. Check tables one at a time, since their spacing may intentionally differ.

Spacing changes back after you type or paste. A style or pasted formatting may be reapplying different settings. Click in the affected paragraph and inspect its style in the Styles gallery. Use the Paragraph dialog to correct the paragraph, or modify the relevant style if all paragraphs using it should match. When pasting text, use Word’s paste options to keep text only or match destination formatting, then confirm the spacing afterward.

The references look uneven even though they are double-spaced. Check for extra blank paragraphs and nonzero paragraph spacing. Also remember that a hanging indent affects the position of the second and later lines, not their line spacing. Set the indent separately rather than using spaces or tabs to push lines into place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does APA format require double spacing everywhere?

Standard APA paper text is double-spaced, including the title page, body, headings, block quotations, and reference list. Table cell text may use single, 1.5, or double spacing for readability. Follow your instructor’s directions if they specify an exception.

Is 2.0 the same as Double in Word?

For ordinary document text, the 2.0 choice in the Line and Paragraph Spacing menu corresponds to double spacing. The Paragraph dialog’s named Double option is another clear way to set it.

Should I leave a blank line between APA paragraphs?

No. Use the normal paragraph break and set spacing before and after to 0 pt. Double line spacing provides the required vertical space; adding an empty line creates extra space.

Can I double-space only selected paragraphs?

Yes. Select the paragraphs you want, then choose Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > 2.0 and set before and after spacing to 0 pt. For a typical APA paper, apply the setting consistently unless your assignment specifies an exception.

What is the shortcut for double spacing?

In Word for Windows, select the text and press Ctrl+2. In Word for Mac, use Command+2. Set paragraph spacing before and after to 0 pt separately if you need to remove extra gaps.

Will double spacing change my page count?

Usually, yes. Double spacing takes more vertical space than single spacing, so the paper may use more pages. Page count can also depend on font, margins, headings, and the content itself; do not reduce required spacing just to reach a page target unless your instructor permits it.

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