The next thing you’ll want to do is get your spacing right. Spacing refers to the amount of space there is between lines of text. You’ve likely noticed different sizes of spacing across different styles of writing you’ve read. For example, most books are published with very little space in between the lines of text:

This is because the formatting rules of novel-writing call for “single-spaced” text.
Academic writing, on the other hand, is different. The formatting rules for this style of writing calls for “double-spaced” text (as shown in the image below). To adjust the space settings on your own Word document, highlight the text and then follow the steps in the graphic below.

- Step 1: Select the Home tab at the top left of your screen.
- Step 2: Select the spacing icon and select 2.0 from the dropdown menu.
Need More Help?
- Study other Writing Lessons in the Resource Center.
- Visit the Online Tutoring Resources in the Resource Center.
- Contact your Instructor.
- If you still need help, Schedule a Tutor.