# Microsoft Word question:  Default format

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-question-default-format/851395>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 9, 2020, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-question-default-format/851395 "2020-04-09T02:04:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-question-default-format/851395/1 "2020-04-09T02:04:44Z")

</div>

Every time I type a document in Microsoft Word, it has 1.25 inch margins on the right and left, and I end up revising them to 0.5 inch margins. Is there a way to make 0.5 inch my default so every new document has 0.5 inch margins? I’m no Word ace, so please explain, to quote Sarris, “…as if to a child.”  
Thanks in advance.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![yearofglad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b782af/32.png) [@yearofglad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yearofglad)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-question-default-format/851395/2 "2020-04-09T02:11:08Z")

</div>

Without knowing which version of Word you’re on, try something like this:

Go to Layout --\> Margins, and then click “Custom Margins” at the bottom, below the preset suggestions.

Set your margins in the dialog box that pops up.

In the lower left, click “Set as Default.”

Try that, or something approximating it, depending on which version of Word you have.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-question-default-format/851395/3 "2020-04-09T02:45:28Z")

</div>

Depends possibly on the version, but try this

Page layout  
Margins  
Custom margins  
set what you want  
click set as default and chose yes

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-question-default-format/851395/4 "2020-04-09T05:47:40Z")

</div>

Son of a gun, it worked! Thanks, guys!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-word-question-default-format/851395/5 "2020-04-10T09:30:47Z")

</div>

It also works for the font style and size as I recently found out.