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How to Make a Hanging Indent

Updated July 2026

A hanging indent flips normal indentation: the first line sits flush left and every following line of the entry is indented half an inch. APA, MLA, and Chicago all require it on the reference list because it makes each entry's first word — the alphabetizing key — easy to scan.

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In Microsoft Word

  1. Select your reference entries.
  2. Open the Paragraph dialog (the small arrow in the Paragraph group, or right-click → Paragraph).
  3. Under Indentation → Special, choose Hanging.
  4. Set the value to 0.5" and click OK.

In Google Docs

Don't fake it with the spacebar or tab key — manual spaces break the moment you edit, and graders can tell. Use the real paragraph setting so it survives reflow.

  1. Select your entries.
  2. Go to Format → Align & indent → Indentation options.
  3. Under Special indent, choose Hanging, set 0.5 in, and click Apply.

The shortcut: skip it entirely

If you build your list in the Bibliography Builder and export to Word, the hanging indents, double spacing, alphabetical order, and the correct list title come already applied — no Paragraph dialogs, no fiddling. It's the fastest way to a correctly formatted reference page or Works Cited.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a hanging indent?
An indentation style where the first line of an entry is flush left and all following lines are indented 0.5 inch — the standard for APA, MLA, and Chicago reference lists.
How do I make a hanging indent in Word?
Select the entries → Paragraph dialog → Indentation → Special → Hanging → 0.5". Don't use spaces or tabs.
How do I do it in Google Docs?
Format → Align & indent → Indentation options → Special indent → Hanging → 0.5 in → Apply.
Why not just use the tab key?
Manual tabs and spaces break when you edit the entry, and they don't reflow correctly. The paragraph setting is stable — or export a pre-formatted list from the Bibliography Builder.

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