Setting Paragraph Tabs

In your document, tabs set how text or numerical data aligns in relation to the document margins. A tab stop is a predefined stopping point along the document's typing line. Default tab stops are set every half-inch, but you can set multiple tabs per paragraph at any location. Choose from four text tab stops: left, right, center, and decimal (for numerical data). The bar tab inserts a vertical bar at the tab stop. You can use the Tab button on the horizontal ruler to switch between the available tabs.

Create and Clear a Tab Stop

Select one or more paragraphs in which you want to set a tab stop.

Click the Tab button on the horizontal ruler until it shows the type of tab stop you want.

Click the ruler where you want to set the tab stop.

If necessary, drag the tab stop to position it where you want.

To display a numerical measurement in the ruler where the tab is placed, press and hold Alt as you drag.

To clear a tab stop, drag it off the ruler.

Did You Know?

You can display tab characters . If you don't see a tab character, that looks like an arrow when you press Tab, click the Show/Hide button on the Standard toolbar.

Tab Stops

Tab Stop	Purpose
	Aligns text to the left of the tab stop
	Aligns text to the right of the tab stop
	Centers text on the tab stop
	Aligns numbers on the decimal point
	Inserts a vertical bar at the tab stop