Enhancing the readability of your documents is as simple as adding more space between words, lines, or letters. In Word Online, you can easily adjust spacing using the Text Preferences feature in Immersive Reader, allowing you to increase readability without altering the original formatting. Similarly, Google Docs offers customizable line and paragraph spacing, helping you see the text more clearly and comfortably. By incorporating these adjustments, you can create a more inviting reading experience. With your free Microsoft and Google accounts, explore how increasing white space in your documents can improve clarity and comprehension.
The benefits of increasing white space in documents:
- Improves readability
- Reduces eye strain
- Enhances visual appeal
Microsoft
Use Text Preferences to increase spacing in Word Online
- Open a document in Word Online.
- Select the View tab.
- Click Immersive Reader in the ribbon. Then, the page view is simplified. Menus disappear. Line spacing increases automatically.
- To customize further, press the Text Preferences icon (AA icon) in the top right of the page.
- Enable Increase Spacing.
- The customized settings will save. Now, every document you open in Immersive Reader can be viewed with your personal preferences.
- Press the back arrow to return to the original formatting of the document.
Microsoft Support article: Learning Tools in Word
Tip: Immersive Reader is available in the following free Microsoft applications: Word Online, OneNote Online, Outlook Online, Microsoft Teams, Edge web browser, and the Microsoft Lens app. Read the article Where is Immersive Reader?
Customize line & paragraph spacing in Word Online
- Open a document in Word Online.
- Select the Layout tab.
- Click the three dots at the end of the ribbon.
- Click Paragraph Options.
- Next to the words Before and After, increase the points between paragraphs. Use the drop down next to Line Spacing to increase the line spacing.
- Press OK.
Customize line & paragraph spacing in Google Docs
- Open a document in Google Docs.
- Select text.
- Then, select the Format tab. Place cursor over Line & Paragraph Spacing. Select your preference .
Google Help article: Change how paragraphs & fonts look for Google Docs.
Additional tools for seeing text more clearly
There are 5 more ways to improve the visibility of text and make reading online easier.
- Personalize font type and size
- High contrast theme, dark mode, or different background color
- Zoom tool
- Magnification tools
- Adjust screen brightness
Resource
My Computer My Way – Vision – This resource by AbilityNet provides step-by-step instructions for accessing accessibility features that help you see websites and applications more clearly. Use the operating system drop down to find directions for your specific device.
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