WD: Unusual or Unexpected Line Spacing Between Paragraphs

ID: Q125935

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a
• Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0

SYMPTOMS

Case 1

Large spaces appear between paragraphs, so that the first line of text appears at the top of the page, and the last line of text is at the bottom of the page.

Case 2

A large white space appears at the top of the page, and the text adjusts itself on the page beginning at the center of the page.

CAUSE

Case 1

Vertical alignment is set to Justified. By design, Word evenly places the text between the top and bottom margins of the page. In other words, the first line of text on a page appears at the top margin, and the last line of text appears at the bottom margin.

Case 2

Vertical alignment is set to Centered. By design, Word centers the text between the top and bottom margins. In other words, a single line of text appears in the center of the page. As you add more lines of text, all text is centered between the top and bottom margins.

WORKAROUND

Remove the Justified or Centered vertical alignment. To do this, follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Page Setup.

2. Select the Layout tab.

3. In the ?Vertical alignment? list, select Top.

4. In the ?Apply to? list, select ?Whole document?.

5. Click OK.

Additional query words:gaps break format vertical vertically verticle white space spacing spread out justify justified centered

Keywords          : wordnt word8 winword ntword macword word6 word7 word95 kbformat 
Version           : MACINTOSH:6.0,6.0.1,6.0.1a; WINDOWS:6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a; winnt:6.0
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS winnt
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: April 3, 1999