# Microsoft Word/Office XP default settings **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 31, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-office-xp-default-settings/165450 "2003-03-31T15:23:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-office-xp-default-settings/165450/1 "2003-03-31T15:23:42Z")
Currently, I mainly use Word for school papers. All of these papers have specific format requirements. The one format specification that spreads across all of my classes (unlike margins, font and the like) is that all must be double spaced. But, when I open a new Word document, it sets it to single-spaced and I have to set it to what I need. No, this isn’t a huge deal and doesn’t take a lot of time, but I’d be happy if I could figure out how to set it so that it opens as double spaced rather than single spaced. I have a tendency to forget that it’s set to single spaced until I’m halfway through the paper (too many years of single-spaced business writing). Can I change this setting? How? I’ve been through the options and I don’t see anything that would let me set it this way. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-office-xp-default-settings/165450/2 "2003-03-31T15:36:31Z")
The best way to do this is to create a new template. Format a new document the way you want, then go to **File|Save As**. Name it “School” or whatever and select **Document Template** under **Save as type**. Save it in the default location. Now, whenever you want to create a school document, go to **File|New**. “School” should show up under **New from template** in the New Document pane on the right side. If not, click **General Templates** and select it. You should get a new blank document with your formatting in place. ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Black\_Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Lizard)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-office-xp-default-settings/165450/3 "2003-03-31T15:56:17Z")
Another way to do this is to change the default of the “Normal” style. If you want double spacing to be the default for all new documents: 1. Open MS Word From the Menu bar choose: 1. Format -\> Styles and formatting… This should pop up a window on the right hand side of the screen. Near the top of the new window is the the word “Normal” in a box. 1. **right** click on the word “Normal” and choose “Modify” it will pop up a box with a lot of options. In the bottom right hand corner of the new box that poped up there is a “Format” button. 1. Click on it and choose “Paragraph…”. Then choose your double spacing settings and click “Ok”. Click “Ok” to all open boxes and it should be good to go. Because this modifies normal all new documents will have double spacing. Black Lizard ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-office-xp-default-settings/165450/4 "2003-03-31T15:57:14Z")
And if you always use the same format, set up the document, and save it as the normal.dot template. That means any new document will be in that format. ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Black\_Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Lizard)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-office-xp-default-settings/165450/5 "2003-03-31T15:59:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Black Lizard \* > \*\*Another way to do this is to change the default of the “Normal” style. If you want double spacing to be the default for all new documents: > > 1. Open MS Word > > From the Menu bar choose: > > 1. Format -\> Styles and formatting… > > This should pop up a window on the right hand side of the screen. Near the top of the new window is the the word “Normal” in a box. > > 1. **right** click on the word “Normal” and choose “Modify” it will pop up a box with a lot of options. > > In the bottom right hand corner of the new box that poped up there is a “Format” button. > > 1. Click on it and choose “Paragraph…”. Then choose your double spacing settings and click “Ok”. > > Click “Ok” to all open boxes and it should be good to go. > > Because this modifies normal all new documents will have double spacing. > > Black Lizard \*\* Sorry, please disregard this. It does not work. Mistake on my part. I misread your question. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-office-xp-default-settings/165450/6 "2003-03-31T16:01:09Z")
Cool. Thanks y’all. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-office-xp-default-settings/165450/7 "2003-03-31T16:04:47Z")
**Black Lizard** was close: [ul] [li]Open a blank document.[/li][li]Select Format[/li][li]Select Styles and Formatting[/li][li]Hover your mouse over “Normal” in the list at the right[/li][li]Click on the pull-down arrow, and select Modify[/li][li]Click on the Double-Space icon just above the little preview window[/li][li]Important: check the “Add to template” box[/li][li]OK out of it[/li][/ul] This will change your “normal” template to include double-spacing