How to Use the Ruler in Microsoft Word

Learn how to use the ruler in Microsoft Word. First, we are going to display the ruler. Then, we are going to use the ruler to change the margins, indent the first line of each paragraph, create hanging indents, and add tabs.

This tutorial was filmed in Word for Microsoft 365. These steps also apply Word 2021, Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013. We will cover this topic in Word for Mac in a separate tutorial.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:42 How to Display the Ruler
01:06 How to Show the Vertical Ruler
01:44 How to Use the Ruler to Change Margins
02:27 Use the Alt Key for Precise Measuring
02:43 How to Use the Ruler to Indent the First Line of Each Paragraph
03:33 How to Use the Ruler to Create Hanging Indents
04:25 How to Use the Ruler to Add Tabs

📝 Companion Blog Post/Transcript for this Video
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How to Use the Ruler in Microsoft Word

💻 Related Resources
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How to Use the Ruler in Word for Mac

How to Adjust Page Margins in Microsoft Word

How to Indent Paragraphs in Microsoft Word

How to Create Hanging Indents in Microsoft Word

How to Create, Change, and Delete Tabs in Microsoft Word

How to Use Microsoft Word (Playlist)

Thank you for watching!

#microsoftword

All Rights Reserved © 2025 Erin Wright

[dianahird]

This is the absolute best explanation of how to use the ruler! Thank you!!

[nicholaskarr]

Found exactly what I was looking for [5:08]. Thank you so much! I left a like to show my appreciation.

[albertokusmic]

Extremely clear and accurate, Erin. Thanks for sharing!

[samwang]

NO ONE EVER TOLD ME THIS, HUGE THANKS!!!!

[samh]

Much appreciated for your dedication for posting these videos Erin.
Thank you for the great tips.

[kayvandeldadeh]

This is the teaching language that make any dumb person computer science professional. Thanks 🙂

[yasminemathers]

That was perfect!
Thank you so much 💜

[bubbles.stu]

Okay, I got the double arrow now, but it won't work on the hanging tag. I already read your suggestion to move them together, then move one back and I get a hot mess. Do I have to change the ruler for each section? I want to set this up once and never have to do it again. How do you do this on a document well in progress. Don't ask me how the settings change themselves. I guess I'm cursed. Also why do the numbers move around on the ruler when I'm trying to do this? I can't find the right place with this.😢Okay, if I need every paragraph following a heading to have no ident (already made a custom style for it) and I need to indent first line of every paragraph that follows a paragraph, what happens if I try this method?

[greg_waxberg]

I have a question about using the ruler to set tabs for a bulleted list. When I drag the marker for the left tab across the screen, the bullets alternate between showing up on the left or right side of the vertical line. Do you happen to know why this happens?

[wanabdmuhaiminwansaifulbah]

Thank you, madam/miss. Your video really helps me a lot.

[shaimaaabdeltawab]

Hello Erin, i have a problem to add a new section after the endnotes or to convert the bibliography into plain text in order to solve this problem, can you help me for that? .. Thank you a lot

[Short_Videos]

Thanks dear
for this information about Ruler.
😍☺😊
💯 Great
God bless you more and more.

[piuchuipoukahmei]

Erin Thanks you, it's easily done in your videos 😅😂 now working in my laptop 👍

[Cpt.Zenobia]

You post some of the best Word tutorials on YouTube, very helpful, Thank you.
A quick question; I regularly need to manually set the width of a table (with text wrapping), an image, or a text box in a two columned page, so I need the precise measurements of the two columns + the spacing between them + padding if any. Is there an easy way to get the exact page layout dimensions?

[DylanDoss]

Thanks. Idk why word has got to be so difficult sometimes. Its a love hate relationship.

[tizme]

Interesting video, there are some tips I was not aware of. BUT my issue is, the rulers are displayed, but they are so faint, almost invisible, how do I increase the colour depth of the ruler?

[hanningtonopondo]

Thanks. Nice simple to follow tutorials. I wish to ask you if it is possible to do a word tutorial on how to make a detailed hireracy flow diagram i.e one which show say a Each leader with support staff working directly unto him.

[lailaanwar]

But when i tried to indent the first line of each paragraph it didnt work! The whole paragraphs moved togather😢

[defaniarmanalfitriansyah]

How to move/slide the ruler in Word without using a mouse