'Space after' paragraphs not applying to whole document

[Johanna]

Hi there,





I've had the same problem on a couple of documents recently. I've tried to add spacing after paragraphs by going to format > paragraph > space after and then setting as default to 'this document only'.



However, I'm finding that this doesn't work and I need to add the spaces after each paragraph - which on a long document is very time consuming.



Any ideas why this isn't working? If I apply to whole document, Word doesn't even put the space after the paragraph I'm on when the error is happening.

I'm on a Mac and have Office 360 so I have the latest version of Word.



Thanks,



Johanna

[gmayor]

I don't know much about Macs, but the principles will be the same. Modify the style(s) used in your document to include the paragraph spacing.

[Johanna]

Thanks. The style says there is 10pt after paragraphs, but this is still being applied inconsistently.

Any other ideas?

[Charles Kenyon]

If the style is set for 10 pts. after paragraphs, is it set to ignore space between paragraphs for paragraphs of the same style?

00 deleteme 9.png

If not, then the style is not being applied uniformly, that is, some other style is being applied or direct formatting.


Paragraph spacing is not, generally, applied for a whole document but to each paragraph. A style applies it to all paragraphs to which the paragraph style applies.
Character Style v Paragraph Style v Linked Style

[Johanna]

Thanks Charles, that's helpful. That box is not ticked, so perhaps it's that the paragraphs are in different styles, is that what you're saying? I'll look out for that if so.

[Johanna]

Following on from that, I've just had a flick through the document on Outline view, and the 'normal' paragraph style seems to be used appropriately throughout - and it's between 'normal' paragraphs that the inconsistencies are happening...

[Stefan Blom]

Are paragraphs properly separated with paragraph marks (¶)?

If some "paragraphs" are terminated with a bent arrow, these indicate line breaks within a paragraph rather than the starting point for a new paragraph.

[Johanna]

Thanks Stefan. I think they're all hard returns rather than soft ones, but I will keep an eye out for that too.