How to Do Hanging Indent on Google Docs

If you're formatting citations for MLA, APA, or Chicago style, you'll need to know how to create a hanging indent. In this quick guide, you’ll learn step-by-step how to do a hanging indent on Google Docs using both the menu options and the ruler tool.

What Is a Hanging Indent in Google Docs?

A hanging indent means the first line of a paragraph stays aligned to the left margin, while the rest of the lines are indented. This format is most commonly used for:

Citations and bibliographies
Reference lists in academic writing
Professional reports and documents

Using a hanging indent improves readability and ensures your documents follow academic formatting standards.

How to Do Hanging Indent on Google Docs (Step-by-Step)

Follow these steps to apply a hanging indent in Google Docs on your desktop:

Open your document and highlight the paragraph or citation.
Click Format in the top menu.
Go to Align & indent > Indentation options.
Under Special indent, select Hanging.
Set the indent depth to 0.5 inches and click Apply.

That’s it! Your selected text now has a hanging indent.

How to Use the Ruler for Hanging Indents in Google Docs

Another way to create a hanging indent is by using the ruler tool:

Enable the ruler by clicking View > Show ruler.
Highlight the paragraph you want to format.
Drag the left indent marker (blue triangle) to 0.5 inches.
Then drag the first line indent marker (blue rectangle) back to 0 inches.

This method gives you precise visual control over your indent settings.

How to Do Hanging Indent on Google Docs Mobile

Unfortunately, the mobile app doesn’t support hanging indents directly. However, you can try this workaround:

Open your document in the Google Docs mobile app.
Type your reference or paragraph.
Add a line break (Shift + Enter).
Tap the space bar multiple times to manually indent the second line.

For proper formatting, it’s best to finish the document on a desktop.

When to Use Hanging Indents

You should use a hanging indent when:

Creating a Works Cited or References page.
Writing research papers in MLA or APA format.
Listing multiple items with consistent visual formatting.

Proper indentation is crucial for professionalism and academic credibility.

Conclusion: Format Hanging Indents Easily in Google Docs

Now you know exactly how to do a hanging indent on Google Docs. Whether you're formatting citations or creating structured lists, this simple formatting technique ensures your content looks polished and professional.

For more Google Docs tutorials, writing tips, and formatting hacks, visit usdate.blogspot.com.