How to Do a Hanging Indent (Word & Google Docs)

A hanging indent is where the first line sits flush left and every line after it is indented 0.5 inch. APA, MLA, and Chicago all use it for the reference list. Here's the right way to do it — without faking it with tabs or spaces (which breaks the moment you edit).

Microsoft Word

1. Select all your reference entries.
2. On the Home tab, click the small arrow in the bottom-right of the Paragraph group to open the Paragraph dialog.
3. Under Indentation, set Special → Hanging, and By → 0.5".
4. Click OK. Done.

Google Docs

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

Don't do this

• Tabs or spaces to push lines over — they fall apart when text reflows.
• Indenting the first line instead of the rest (that's a normal indent).

FAQ

What size is a hanging indent?

0.5 inch (1.27 cm) in APA, MLA, and Chicago.

Does my whole reference list need it?

Yes — every entry, applied to the whole list at once.