Google Docs –

Introduction:
Do you want to enhance the visual appeal of your documents? Adding indents and tabs can help you draw attention to important areas and separate paragraphs effectively. In this guide, you’ll learn how to use tab stops, the ruler, and shortcut buttons to create professional-looking documents in Google Docs.

Indenting Text

A common method to visually separate paragraphs is by indenting the first line. In Google Docs, you can easily do this by using the Tab key, creating a half-inch first-line indent. To indent all lines within a paragraph, you can also make use of the Increase and Decrease indent shortcut buttons.

To indent using the Tab key:

1. Place your cursor at the beginning of the paragraph you want to indent.
2. Press the Tab key on your keyboard to create a half-inch first-line indent.

To indent using the Indent shortcut buttons:

1. Select the text you want to indent.
2. Click the Increase indent button to increase the indent by half-inch increments.
3. All lines of the paragraph will be indented.
4. Click the Decrease indent button to decrease the indent.

Customizing Indents:
Google Docs provides you with the flexibility to customize indents beyond the default half-inch indent. Using the three indent markers and the Ruler, you can create indents that suit your specific requirements.

To customize indents with the Ruler:

1. Place your cursor anywhere in the text or paragraph you want to indent.
2. Click and drag the desired indent marker to your desired location.
3. The Ruler will guide you with a blue line, showing the indent’s position.
4. Release the mouse to apply the indent.

Using Tab Stops:
If you want even more control over text placement, tab stops are your solution. By default, pressing the Tab key moves the insertion point half an inch to the right. However, you can add tab stops to the Ruler and change their size. There are three types of tab stops: left, center, and right.

To add tab stops:

1. Select the paragraphs where you want to add tab stops.
2. Click the location on the Ruler where you want your text to appear.
3. Choose the desired tab stop from the drop-down menu.
4. Place the insertion point where you want to add the tab.
5. Press the Tab key, and the text will jump to the next tab stop location.

Challenge!

1. Open our example file by clicking here. Make sure you’re signed in to Google, then click File > Make a copy.
2. Scroll to page 2 and indent the paragraph underneath the word “Summary” using the Tab key.
3. On page 3, drag the left indent marker past the 0.5″ mark in the “Education” section.
4. Select the text in the “Skills” section and format it as a bulleted list.
5. While the list is still selected, drag the left indent marker to the 1″ mark.
6. Take a look at page 3 to see the final result.

With these formatting techniques, you’ll be able to create visually appealing and professional documents in Google Docs. Experiment with indents and tabs to make your documents stand out!