can't adjust spacing between words

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
February 6, 2022
3 replies
24358 views

I have a text box where the space between words is too small. I don't know how to change it.

Interestingly, I have another text box where it looks fine, but I can't find what setting controls this.

I saved these 2 boxes with separate paragraph styles, but toggling the first box to have the other box's style doesn't change anything.

Type

Correct answer rob day

You can also adjust word spacing with a key command. With the text selected—Ctrl+Alt+Backspace (Windows) or Command+Option+Delete (Mac) decreases the word spacing, and Ctrl+Alt+\ (Windows) or Command+Option+\ (Mac) to increase. The key commands adjust the kerning values of the word spaces and don’t affect the Justification settings.

rafaellondon

Participating Frequently

Hello from 2025.
With the MacBook Pro keyboard doesn't seems to work the keyboard Opt Cmd Del to decrease word space.
I recomend create new keyboard shortcut asigning Decrease Word Space to: Option Comand '
This way both increasing wordspace and decreasing and next to each other in the keyboard. decreas: ' inclrease: \

rob day

Correct answer

Community Expert

You can also adjust word spacing with a key command. With the text selected—Ctrl+Alt+Backspace (Windows) or Command+Option+Delete (Mac) decreases the word spacing, and Ctrl+Alt+\ (Windows) or Command+Option+\ (Mac) to increase. The key commands adjust the kerning values of the word spaces and don’t affect the Justification settings.

Scott Falkner

Community Expert

This is the first I have heard of this. After experimenting I have discovered I have little need for this feature. As a shortcut to apply manual kerning to word spacing it is better than nothing. But it is not formatting I can apply, adjust, or make uniform using a style. I will stick with Justification settings. Still, nice to know it is there.

Peter Spier

Community Expert

I use it for adjusting paragraph lengths on the fly where I need to have one more or one less line to get a good break at the bottom of a page or column. Highlighting a fairly long paragraph and hitting the shortcuts one or two times can usually make it happen without a visible abberation.