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How to Align the Periods in Numbered Lists in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac)

By Erin Wright

When you create numbered lists in Microsoft Word, the periods after the numbers don’t automatically line up when you advance from single digits to double digits. So, today’s tutorial shows how to align the periods in numbered lists.

For a full tutorial about creating numbered lists, please see “How to Create and Modify Numbered Lists in Microsoft Word.”

Watch all the steps shown here in real time!

Explore more than 200 writing-related software tutorials on my YouTube channel.

The images below are from Word for Microsoft 365. These steps also apply to Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac (a.k.a., Word for Mac), Word 2021, Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013.

How to Align the Periods in Numbered Lists

  1. Select the first number to select all the list numbers on the same level.
Selected list numbers in Word 365
Figure 1. Selected list numbers
  1. Select the Home tab.
Home tab in Word 365
Figure 2. Home tab
  1. Select the Numbering menu arrow.
Numbering menu arrow in Word 365
Figure 3. Numbering menu arrow
  1. Select Define New Number Format in the drop-down menu.
Define New Number Format option in the Numbering menu in Word 365
Figure 4. Define New Number Format option
  1. Select Right in the Alignment menu in the Define New Number Format dialog box.
Right option in the Alignment menu in the Define New Number Format dialog box in Word 365
Figure 5. Right alignment option
  1. Select the OK button.
OK button in the Define New Number Format dialog box in Word 365
Figure 6. OK button

The periods should now be aligned.

Numbered list with aligned periods in Word 365
Figure 7. Numbered list with aligned periods
  1. (Optional) Select the list items and use the Hanging Indent marker on the ruler to adjust the spacing.
Numbered list with hanging indent adjustment in word 365
Figure 8. Numbered list with hanging indent adjustment

Related Resources

How to Create Custom List Numbers in Microsoft Word

How to Create Bulleted Lists in Microsoft Word

How to Create Custom Bullets in Microsoft Word

Filed Under: Microsoft Word Tagged With: Word 2013, Word 2016, Word 2019, Word 2021, Word for Mac

Home » How to Align the Periods in Numbered Lists in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac)

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Technical Writer and Editor Erin Wright

Hello! My name is Erin. I am a technical writer and editor who shares writing-related software tutorials on this website and on YouTube.

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