When writing a paper, it is important to understand how big to indent the text. Indentation is a crucial formatting technique that can make your paper look more professional and cohesive. Depending on the style guide you are using, your indents should vary from one inch to a quarter of an inch.
First Line Indentation (CMOS and APA)
Your first line should be indented by one-half to a full inch, or five spaces. This is called a “first-line indent,” and it is the most common way to mark a new paragraph.
You can set your first-line indent in Word by right-clicking in your text and choosing Paragraph – Indents and Spacing. From the popup menu, select Special – First Line – and enter the measurement in the adjacent box.
Block Quotations in CMOS and APA
The first line of any block quotation should be indented 0.5 inches from the left margin, and the beginning of the first line of the second and subsequent paragraphs should also be indented a further 0.5 inches. This is done to ensure that the first line of each quote in the reference list matches the rest of the references in your paper.
Headings and Tables/Figures
Your Level 1 headings should be centered, and your Level 2 and 3 headings should be left-aligned and bolded or italicized. Your tables and figures should have titles that are centered or in bold, with their numbers indented like regular paragraphs.
Leaving Blank Lines Between Paragraphs
While this isn’t a rule in CMOS or APA, you should always leave a blank line between your paragraphs to indicate the end of the last sentence and the start of the next. This is especially important in a paper that has lots of complex information and complicated ideas.
Hanging Indent on Lists
You should use a hanging indent of 0.5 inches on the first line of any list that has a bullet. This will create a rectangular text block with the bullet dangling off to the left side of the page, as shown in this example.
This indent is also used in outlines, resumes, and bibliographies. You can use this indentation format to help your reader quickly find the information they need in the right place.
Indents for Fiction
Unlike non-fiction narratives, most novels have a lot of long and complicated sentences that require a single space between each paragraph to allow the reader’s brain to process information before moving on to the next. The result is a book that can be read quickly and easily.
When in doubt, pull a favorite book from your shelf and take a close look at its paragraph indentations. You’ll be surprised at how different those indentations are from each other, and you will get a better sense of how big to indent your own paragraphs.
You can also change your indentation settings in any word processor. Some word processing programs, like Microsoft Word, will automatically indent your text to match a standard set of guidelines. This will save you time and headaches.
