# Microsoft Word (2007) question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 23, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-2007-question/579420 "2011-04-23T00:20:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-2007-question/579420/1 "2011-04-23T00:20:39Z")
This is driving me batcrap. Word is set up to default to adding a space between paragraphs. I have tried many times to change my default by clicking Paragraph, then selecting the defaults I want, then clicking Default. I get a warning that all new documents will retain these settings. Great. That’s what I want. I click OK. But it doesn’t work. New documents continue to default to adding the space. What am I missing? Thanks, mmm ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-2007-question/579420/2 "2011-04-23T00:48:48Z")
You need to change it in the [Normal.dotm template](http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/change-the-normal-template-normal-dotm-HA010030756.aspx). ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-2007-question/579420/3 "2011-04-23T00:56:19Z")
That solved it, Yoyodyne - thanks! But I must ask: why didn’t my other method work, when it certainly seems that was what it was supposed to do. mmm ---
**Author:** ![desert29rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@desert29rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desert29rat)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-2007-question/579420/4 "2011-04-23T01:03:27Z")
I was having the same trouble, but I only recently changed my default settings. I clicked on Paragraph, and under Spacing, I set both the Before and After to “0”, and I changed the Line Spacing to Single. I clicked Default… clicked Yes, and my default spacing is now single. I didn’t even have to save the document. If that doesn’t work, take a look at your Word settings. Click on the logo in the upper left of the screen (the multi-colored loops), then click on the Word Options button at the bottom. Select Advanced; there are all sorts of default options you can change in that menu. Good Luck. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-2007-question/579420/5 "2011-04-23T01:47:33Z")
I don’t know. Word has always worked that way, any new document inherits the settings in the normal template plus any settings in the template you create it with (if you choose one). Any changes made in a document are only for that document. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-2007-question/579420/6 "2011-04-23T01:58:15Z")
I just verified this again to make sure I’m not being dense. When you click on the Paragraph tab, then click on Default, you get a window that says: > [@](#): > > You are about to change the default alignment, indentation, and spacing of the paragraphs in this document. Do you want this change to affect all new documents based on the NORMAL template? But when you click Yes, any new documents _do not_ contain the changes you’ve made. This is what, to me, was confusing and frustrating. mmm ---
**Author:** ![cplif](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/48db29/32.png) [@cplif](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cplif)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-2007-question/579420/7 "2011-04-23T15:44:19Z")
Try opening a blank document, validate your changes, then save it as normal.dotx disregarding warnings about squashing the old file. The file itself may be damaged, re-saving it may do the trick. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-2007-question/579420/8 "2011-04-23T16:48:17Z")
> [@desert29rat](#): > > Click on the logo in the upper left of the screen (the multi-colored loops) Not to be pedantic, but this is called [the “Office button.”](http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/what-and-where-is-the-microsoft-office-button-HA010182895.aspx)