How to Double Space in Word: Shortcut and Steps

To double-space text in Microsoft Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, select the text or paragraphs and press Ctrl+2. On a Mac, select the text and press Command+2. The shortcut changes line spacing for the paragraph or paragraphs involved; it does not insert blank lines. You can use it on a selection, a whole document, or the paragraph where your cursor is placed.

What You’ll Need

A document open in Microsoft Word. These instructions focus on Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows; the Mac shortcut is included where it differs.
Text to format, or a document in which you want to set the spacing before you start typing. No add-in or special setting is required.

Step-by-Step

Open the document and decide what should be double-spaced. You can format one paragraph, several paragraphs, selected text, or the entire document. If you only need to change a section, avoid selecting the whole document.
Select the text or paragraphs, if needed. Drag across the text with your mouse, or click at the start of the section, hold Shift, and click at its end. You can also use the arrow keys while holding Shift. If you select only part of a paragraph, Word applies paragraph spacing to the whole paragraph, because line spacing is paragraph formatting.
Use the shortcut. On Windows, press Ctrl+2. On Mac, press Command+2. Use the number 2 on the main keyboard if possible; some keyboards or applications handle number-pad keys differently. You should see the lines in the selected paragraphs spread farther apart immediately.
Double-space the whole document, if that is what you need. Click in the document body, then press Ctrl+A on Windows or Command+A on Mac to select the document text. Press Ctrl+2 or Command+2, respectively. Check the selection before formatting if the document contains tables, headers, footers, or other special areas; selections in those areas may behave differently from a click in ordinary body text.
Set spacing for text you are about to type. Click in the paragraph where the new text will go, press the appropriate shortcut, and then type. The paragraph uses double spacing. If you press Enter to create another paragraph, Word will generally carry forward the paragraph formatting, though a style or a following paragraph with different formatting can change that behavior.
Confirm the result in the ribbon if you want a visual check. On Windows, open Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing and look for the selected 2.0 option. In Word for Mac, use Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing and choose 2.0 if you need to set it from the ribbon. This menu is a useful alternative when a keyboard shortcut is unavailable or intercepted.
Check paragraph gaps separately. Double spacing controls the distance between lines within a paragraph. It does not necessarily remove or change extra space before or after paragraphs. If there are unusually large gaps between paragraphs, open the spacing menu and choose Line Spacing Options on Windows, or use Format > Paragraph on Mac. Review the Before and After paragraph spacing values as well as the line spacing setting.
Save the document. Press Ctrl+S on Windows or Command+S on Mac. If you are working in Word for the web, changes may save automatically, but wait for the save status to finish before closing the tab.

In Word for the web, the ribbon is a dependable way to apply the setting: select the paragraphs, choose Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > 2.0. Keyboard shortcuts can vary with the browser and keyboard configuration, so use the ribbon if Ctrl+2 or Command+2 does not produce the expected result there.

Common Mistakes

Adding empty paragraphs instead of changing line spacing. Pressing Enter repeatedly creates blank paragraphs. That can make the page look spaced out, but it is not true double spacing and can cause inconsistent layout when you edit or print. Use Ctrl+2 or Command+2 instead.
Formatting only the cursor location when you meant to change a larger section. With no selection, the shortcut changes the paragraph containing the insertion point, not every paragraph in the document. Select the intended range first, or select all when you truly want a document-wide change.
Assuming selected words are the only part affected. Line spacing belongs to paragraphs. If a selection touches a paragraph, the paragraph’s line spacing can change even when the selection covers only a few words. This is normal, not a sign that the selection failed.
Confusing double spacing with a particular font size. Ctrl+2 does not enlarge the type. It increases the vertical distance between lines while leaving the font size and text itself unchanged.
Ignoring extra paragraph spacing. A document can have double-spaced lines and still show a larger gap after each paragraph because Before or After spacing is also set. Adjust those values only if the assignment or document requirements call for it.
Using Ctrl+2 outside Word. Shortcuts are application-specific. In another program, Ctrl+2 may have a different function or do nothing. Click into the Word document first and confirm Word is the active window.

Tips

Use the companion shortcuts to compare spacing. In Word for Windows, Ctrl+1 sets single spacing and Ctrl+5 sets 1.5-line spacing. On Mac, use Command+1 and Command+5. These are useful for checking how a document looks at other common settings. Select the relevant paragraphs first if you want to change more than the current paragraph.
Format by section when requirements differ. For example, an essay may require double-spaced body paragraphs but single-spaced block quotations or footnotes. Select and format each section separately instead of applying Ctrl+A without checking the document’s rules.
Use the ribbon for a precise check. The 2.0 option makes the chosen line-spacing setting visible. If the shortcut appears not to work, selecting the paragraphs and choosing that option from the ribbon can both resolve the issue and confirm what Word applied.
Change a style if new documents or many paragraphs should use double spacing. A one-time shortcut changes the selected paragraphs, not necessarily the underlying Normal style. In Word for Windows, use the Styles area on the Home tab, right-click the style you want to change, choose Modify, then use Format > Paragraph to set line spacing to Double. The labels and dialog layout can differ slightly on Mac. Consider whether changing a shared style is appropriate, since it can affect every paragraph using that style.
Keep a copy when formatting a long or important document. Word formatting can be changed again, but a saved copy gives you a simple way to compare the original layout if a document contains many special styles, lists, or tables.
Check the printed or exported page if layout matters. Double spacing increases page length and can move page breaks, headings, and footnotes. Preview the final document after changing spacing, especially if it must meet a page limit or submission format.

Troubleshooting

Nothing changes when I press Ctrl+2 or Command+2. First, click in the document body so Word is active. If you want to change a specific range, select it again and retry. On Windows, use the number 2 above the letter keys rather than a number-pad key. If the shortcut still fails, use Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > 2.0. In Word for the web, the ribbon is especially useful because browser shortcuts can take priority.

Only one paragraph changed. That is expected if the cursor was in that paragraph and no text was selected. Select all the paragraphs you want to format, then apply the shortcut again. To change the main document text, click in the body before using Ctrl+A or Command+A, and inspect the highlighted range before applying the setting.

The lines are still too far apart. Check whether Word has added space before or after each paragraph. On Windows, select the paragraphs, go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > Line Spacing Options, and review the Before and After fields. On Mac, open Format > Paragraph and review the corresponding paragraph spacing controls. Set extra paragraph spacing to the required value; do not assume that changing line spacing also resets it.

The document looks double-spaced in one section but not another. Different paragraphs may use different styles or have been formatted separately. Select the inconsistent paragraphs and apply 2.0 again. If a style keeps overriding the change, inspect that style’s paragraph settings or choose the same style for the affected text. Be cautious about clearing all formatting, since that can also remove headings, emphasis, and other deliberate styling.

The spacing changes again when I press Enter. Word may be applying a different style or paragraph format to the new paragraph. Apply the setting to the new paragraph, or modify the style used for that section if all following paragraphs need the same spacing. Also check whether you are starting a new list item, heading, or quotation, since these may use their own styles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the shortcut to double-space in Word on Windows?

Press Ctrl+2. Select text or paragraphs first to apply it to that range. With no selection, it applies to the paragraph containing the cursor.

What is the double-spacing shortcut on a Mac?

In Word for Mac, press Command+2. If the shortcut is unavailable in your setup, select the paragraphs and choose Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > 2.0.

How do I double-space an entire Word document?

Click in the document body, press Ctrl+A on Windows or Command+A on Mac, then press Ctrl+2 or Command+2. Check that the intended text is selected, particularly in documents with tables or other special content.

Does Ctrl+2 add a blank line between paragraphs?

No. It sets double line spacing within the paragraphs. Blank lines come from empty paragraphs, while additional gaps between paragraphs are controlled by paragraph Before and After spacing.

Can I make double spacing the default for new paragraphs?

Yes. Modify the paragraph style you use, such as Normal, and set its line spacing to Double through the style’s paragraph formatting options. A shortcut changes the current paragraph or selection; it does not by itself redefine a style for future documents.

How do I return to single spacing?

Select the paragraphs and press Ctrl+1 on Windows or Command+1 on Mac. You can also use the ribbon’s line-spacing menu and choose 1.0.

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