Microsoft Word doesn’t usually display a dedicated “Letter Spacing” button directly on the main ribbon. Instead, the setting is located inside the Font dialog box. This is where Word keeps several advanced text-formatting options, including character spacing.
The important thing to understand is that letter spacing is different from word spacing. When you adjust character spacing, you’re changing the distance between individual characters. For example, the word “WELCOME” can become visually wider without changing the size of the letters themselves.
You can also use the same area to control font scaling, kerning, and other advanced typography settings. For most beginners, however, the Spacing and By options are the main controls you’ll need.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to increase or decrease letter spacing in Microsoft Word.
Learn Letter Spacing in Word [Full Guide]
Follow these steps for letter spacing!
- To adjust letter spacing in Word, select the text you want to change.
- Go to Home > Font, then click the small Font Dialog Box Launcher in the bottom-right corner of the Font section.
- Select the Advanced tab in the Font dialog box.
- Find the Character Spacing section and open the Spacing dropdown menu.
- Choose Expanded to increase the space between letters or Condensed to reduce it.
- Enter a value in the By box to control how much the spacing changes.
- Click OK to apply the new letter spacing.
Step 1: Select the Text You Want to Adjust
Start by opening your Word document and finding the text where you want to change the letter spacing. You can select a single word, a sentence, a heading, an entire paragraph, or even the whole document.
To select a word, simply double-click it. If you want to select a longer section, click and drag your mouse across the text. You can also hold Ctrl while selecting separate pieces of text if you want to format multiple areas.
This step matters because Word applies character spacing to the selected text. If nothing is selected, the new setting can become the formatting for text you type afterward, depending on where your cursor is positioned.
For a quick test, it’s a good idea to select a short heading first. That way, you can see exactly how the spacing changes before applying it to a larger section.
Step 2: Open the Font Dialog Box
With your text selected, look at the Home tab at the top of Word. Find the Font section, where you’ll see options such as font name, font size, bold, italic, underline, and text effects.
Look for the tiny Font Dialog Box Launcher in the bottom-right corner of this section. It looks like a small diagonal arrow. Click it to open the full Font settings window.
This window contains more options than the basic controls displayed on the ribbon. You’ll see tabs such as Font, Advanced, and, depending on your version of Word, additional formatting options.
If you prefer keyboard shortcuts, you can also press Ctrl + D to open the Font dialog box in many desktop versions of Microsoft Word. This can be a convenient option when you’re formatting text frequently.
Step 3: Open the Advanced Character Settings
Inside the Font dialog box, select the Advanced tab. This is where you’ll find the controls that affect character positioning and spacing.
Look for the Character Spacing section. You’ll see options related to Scale, Spacing, By, and Kerning.
For basic letter-spacing adjustments, focus on the Spacing dropdown. This is the setting that determines whether Word should keep the characters at their normal distance, spread them apart, or bring them closer together.
Don’t worry if the other settings look unfamiliar. You don’t need to change them just to adjust letter spacing.
Step 4: Choose Expanded or Condensed Spacing
Open the Spacing dropdown menu. You’ll typically see three choices: Normal, Expanded, and Condensed.
Choose Expanded when you want to increase the distance between characters. This is useful when you’re creating a large title, heading, or decorative text and want the letters to have more breathing room.
Choose Condensed when you want to bring characters closer together. This can be useful when a heading is slightly too wide or when you want a compact typography style.
The Normal option returns the character spacing to its standard setting.
Keep in mind that letter spacing affects the overall appearance of the text. Even a relatively small adjustment can become noticeable when you’re working with large fonts or all-capital headings.
Step 5: Set the Exact Letter Spacing
After choosing Expanded or Condensed, use the By box to specify how much you want to adjust the spacing.
For example, if you select Expanded, entering a small value creates a subtle increase in the distance between characters. A larger value creates a more noticeable effect.
The same principle works with Condensed spacing. A small adjustment produces a tighter appearance, while a larger value makes the characters sit much closer together.
It’s best to start with a small value rather than making a dramatic change immediately. Typography often looks better when the adjustment is subtle.
You can experiment with different values and use Word’s preview behavior to find the appearance that works best for your document.
Step 6: Apply the Letter Spacing
Once you’ve selected your preferred spacing and entered the desired value, click OK.
Word will immediately apply the character-spacing adjustment to the text you selected.
Take a moment to look at the result. Check whether the letters now appear too spread out or too close together. If the result isn’t quite right, simply reopen the Font > Advanced settings and adjust the value.
There’s no need to manually delete spaces or insert spaces between letters. Using Word’s character-spacing controls gives you a much cleaner and more consistent result.
Step 7: Adjust Letter Spacing for a Heading or Title
Letter spacing can be particularly effective for headings and titles. For example, a heading written in uppercase can sometimes look crowded when all the characters are positioned at normal spacing.
Select the heading, open Font > Advanced, and choose Expanded spacing. Start with a small value and check how the heading looks.
You can also combine letter spacing with bold formatting, a larger font size, or a different typeface. This can give a simple heading a more polished appearance without requiring additional design software.
However, don’t overdo it. Excessive spacing can make words difficult to read, particularly in paragraphs.
Step 8: Return Letter Spacing to Normal
If you don’t like the result, you can easily restore the original spacing.
Select the affected text and return to Home > Font > Font Dialog Box Launcher > Advanced. Under Character Spacing, change Spacing back to Normal and click OK.
This removes the expanded or condensed character-spacing adjustment.
You can also use Ctrl + Z immediately after making the change if you want to undo the formatting. This is often the quickest solution when you’re experimenting with different typography settings.
Faqs
Can I change letter spacing in Word?
Yes. Word includes built-in character spacing controls. Select your text and go to Home > Font Dialog Box Launcher > Advanced, then use the Spacing and By settings.
How do I increase the space between letters in Word?
Select your text, open the Advanced tab in the Font dialog box, select Expanded under Character Spacing, and enter the amount of spacing you want in the By field.
How do I reduce the space between letters in Word?
Select the text and choose Condensed under Character Spacing. Enter a suitable value in the By field and click OK.
Can I change letter spacing without changing font size?
Yes. Character spacing and font size are separate formatting controls. You can increase or decrease letter spacing while keeping the same font and font size.
Why does my Word text look too spread out?
You may have accidentally applied Expanded character spacing or entered a relatively large value in the By field. Check Home > Font > Advanced > Character Spacing and change the spacing to Normal if necessary.
Is letter spacing the same as line spacing?
No. Letter spacing controls the horizontal distance between characters. Line spacing controls the vertical distance between lines within a paragraph.
Can I apply letter spacing to an entire document?
Yes. You can select the entire document with Ctrl + A and then apply character spacing through the Font dialog box. However, be careful because changing spacing across an entire document can affect headings, paragraphs, tables, and other formatting.
Does letter spacing work with all fonts?
The character-spacing feature works with standard Word fonts, but the visual result can vary depending on the font design, size, weight, and capitalization. Always check the finished appearance rather than relying only on the numerical value.