---
title: "How to do a hanging indent on Google Docs"
description: "Creating a bibliography or works cited following a style guide that calls for hanging indents? Here's how to do a hanging indent on Google Docs."
image: "https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/5LgNoaJ8dOotOnBwEUR1js/a86173ff0fc1bd01d74becc48afa9b8d/google-docs-hero-neutral.png"
---

# How to do a hanging indent on Google Docs

Creating a bibliography or works cited following a style guide that calls for hanging indents? Here's how to do a hanging indent on Google Docs.

Let's say you're [using Google Docs to create a bibliography](https://zapier.com/blog/google-keep-google-docs/). If you're following a style guide that calls for hanging indents—like the MLA, APA, or Chicago style guide—here's the easiest way to do a hanging indent on [Google Docs](https://zapier.com/blog/how-to-use-google-docs/). 

**Table of contents**: 

- [What is a hanging indent?](#what)
- [How to do a hanging indent on Google Docs](#how)

## What is a hanging indent?

A hanging indent is where all lines of a paragraph, except the first, are indented a half an inch. It's a formatting style often used in bibliographies and works cited entries. 

## How to do a hanging indent on Google Docs

1. Use the [keyboard shortcut](https://zapier.com/blog/google-docs-shortcuts) to highlight your entire page: `Ctrl`+`A` on Windows or `command`+`A` on Mac. Or highlight the paragraphs you want to apply hanging indents to.
2. Click **Format** > **Align & indent** > **Indentation options**.

3. In the _Special indent_ section, click the **down caret **(`⋁`), and select **Hanging**.

4. Click **Apply**.

That's it. As you add new entries, all lines of your paragraph (except the first) will automatically indent to the right. 

## Automate Google Docs

Tinkering with page margins is just a fraction of document prep work. Use Zapier to [connect Google Docs](https://zapier.com/apps/google-docs/integrations) with your other apps, so you can automate the rest of your tedious document-related tasks. For example, you can [create a Google Docs template](https://zapier.com/blog/create-google-docs-template/) and automatically [populate it with data from your spreadsheet](https://zapier.com/blog/create-autopopulate-google-docs-template/). Here's a workflow to get you started.  

**Related reading**: 

- [Google Docs formatting tricks to make your files pretty](https://zapier.com/blog/google-docs-formatting-tips)
- [How to remove page breaks in Google Docs with pageless view](https://zapier.com/blog/google-docs-pageless/)
- [Google Docs features to improve your workflows](https://zapier.com/blog/google-docs-features/)
- [How to do subscript and superscript in Google Docs](https://zapier.com/blog/superscript-subscript-google-docs/)
- [How to change the background color in Google Docs](https://zapier.com/blog/google-docs-background-color )
- [How to add a border in Google Docs](https://zapier.com/blog/how-to-add-a-border-in-google-docs)