Any way to decrease JUST the space IN-BETWEEN double-spaced paragraphs?

Question

I'm using paragraphs with the Line Spacing set at "Double." I have the Spacing box checked that says "Don't add space between paragraphs of the same style." And both the "Before" and "After" spacing for each paragraph is set to "0 pt."

I want to decrease the double-spacing that Word automatically applies BETWEEN paragraphs that are double-spaced.  In other words, I want to keep the paragraphs and everything in them double-spaced, but decrease JUST the space AFTER the last line of each paragraph and BEFORE the first line of the next paragraphs.  Unfortunately, I can't just use single-spacing, multiple-spacing, etc. because this is a legal brief and the court specifically requires double-spacing.  But there's no requirement that the spacing BETWEEN the paragraphs needs to also be double-spaced, so I want to make the space between my paragraphs slightly less than double-spaced.  With my font size for all of the document text set to 12, and thus Word automatically adding 12-pt double-spacing between every line (and accordingly also between every paragraph), I'd really like the space between the paragraphs to be 10-pt.

I want to decrease the double-spacing that Word automatically applies BETWEEN paragraphs that are double-spaced.  In other words, I want to keep the paragraphs and everything in them double-spaced, but decrease JUST the space AFTER the last line of each paragraph and BEFORE the first line of the next paragraphs.  Unfortunately, I can't just use single-spacing or multiple-spacing, as this is a legal brief and the court specifically requires double-spacing.  But there's no requirement that the spacing BETWEEN the paragraphs needs to also be double-spaced, so I want to make the space between paragraphs slightly less than double-spaced.  With my font size for all of the document text set to 12, Word automatically adds 12-pt double-spacing between every line of every paragraph (and accordingly also between the paragraphs themselves).  I'd really like the space between the paragraphs to be 10-pt.

If you're dying to know why I want to do this so badly, it's because I think the 12-pt space between the actual paragraphs just looks like way too much white space (I think it looks fine for the paragraphs themselves, just not between them).  More importantly than mere aesthetics, I'm on a strict page limit that I've already exceeded, so every single line matters.  And one more specific reason is that I'm able to make my subsection headings (i.e., Introduction, Jurisdiction, Parties, Facts, etc.) single-spaced, so I can go to Paragraph Indents and Spacing Spacing, and set the Line Spacing for just the one line of the subsection headings to "Single" and the spacing After to "10-pt."  But the problem with that is, I can't decrease the space BEFORE those subsection headings—since it's pulling the double-space formatting from the last line of the double-spaced paragraphs that precede each subsection heading—so I end up with an obviously uneven looking space before (12-pt) and after (10-pt) each subsection heading.

I've been using Word my entire life, took advanced courses on it in college, and essentially have to be a Word professional as part of being an attorney.  I've have rarely come across a formatting question that I either can't figure out myself through trial & error, or at least find a quick answer Googling it, but this one is apparently the lone enigma.

Thanks a million in advance if anyone has any idea how to make this happen!

Answer 1

Good point. I just ASSumed that they had already figured that out and were NOT doing the extra blank para. But it is worth asking ... <grin>

Answer 2

If you are pressing the Enter key twice at the end of a paragraph, you are getting a double space twice. Instead use the space after setting and allow it to apply to paragraphs of the same style.

As you work in a law firm, I am sure you are aware that my being a lawyer does not mean I know what I am talking about. :)

Answer 3

For example, if you decide you want to use the "Do full justification like WordPerfect ..." option because it provides slightly better document text compression, but you are using Word 2016 there is a way to still get it. You need to start with a blank document/template created in Word 2010. Copy the text into it and then the option will be available. Editing the document in 2016 will set it to "Compatibility Mode". As long as you don't convert/upgrade it to 2016 format you'll have the option.

Answer 4

This is a tough request. Word automates line control and it is hard to break that automation.

In the Paragraph dialog, have you tried setting the Spacing "Before" and "After" to 0 rather than Auto. That reduces spacing between paragraphs slightly. But I don't know of any way to make it a negative value.

Here is a link to a document I called "Make it Fit":

https://1drv.ms/w/s!Am8lVyUzjKfphw6l2HEIiQ4_oH75

(I just updated it, adding screen captures to show what I was seeing. I realized that the editable text I included originally would not necessarily continue to show the differences I was trying to demonstrate depending on the specific version of Word you use to view it)

It contains all of the formatting tricks I know.

For example, if you are on an absolute page limit there are a number of "tricks" you can use to shrink or expand space used by the text. Things that the average judge, or lawyer will not notice in a printed document. For example:

. * setting the line spacing to "Exactly" and something slightly less than double, ie 1.8 or 1.9.

. * using slightly smaller font size, ie 11.8 or 11.9

. * turning on kerning, if it is supported by the specific font (doesn't help much at 12 pt, but may save one or two lines in a document

. *

Answer 5

Hi,

Set automatic spacing between lines of text

Select the text you want to change.

On the Home tab, click the Paragraph launcher to show the Paragraph dialog box.

Click the Indents and Spacing tab.

Under Line spacing, in the Between lines box, type or select the amount of spacing you want between lines of text. For example, to double space type or select 2sp. To change from double space to single space type or select 1sp.

Tip: The default value for space between lines is displayed in spaces (sp). If you type a whole number, Publisher interprets it as a number of spaces. You can specify other measurement units by typing the abbreviation for them after the numerical value: inches (in), centimeters (cm), picas (pi), points (pt), or pixels (px). When you specify a unit other than spaces, Publisher converts the measurement to points.

Let me know if that helps.

Kind Regards,

Engr. Jamshed Muhammad