A hanging indent is where the first line of a paragraph juts out to the left, and the rest of the paragraph is indented. It gives your document a much cleaner look and makes it easier to read.
There are several ways to create a hanging indent in Google Docs. Keep reading to learn how to do it!
Contents
Method 1: Create A Hanging Indent In Google Docs using Menu Bar Options
The first method is the easiest way to create a hanging indent in Google Docs. All you need to do is:
Step 1
Open Google Docs and add text where you want to create a hanging indent.
Step 2
Select the text that you want to indent. It can be a line, a paragraph, multiple paragraphs, or the whole document.

Step 3
Click “Format” at the top of the page, then “Align & Indent” > “indentation Option”.

Step 4
Under “Special Indent,” select “Hanging.” Then press “Apply” to save the settings.

That’s it; you are done!

Method 2: Use The Ruler To Create A Hanging Indent In Google Docs
The second method of creating a hanging indent in Google Docs is using the ruler. This method is more hands-on, but it’s still easy to do. Just follow these steps:
Step 1
Open Google Docs and add text where you want to create a hanging indent.
Step 2
Turn on the ruler by clicking “View” > “Show Ruler.” You will see a horizontal ruler appear at the top of your document. If the ruler is already turned on, you can skip this step.

Step 3
Select/highlight the text that you want to indent. Again, it can be a line, a paragraph, multiple paragraphs, or the whole document.

Step 4
Click and drag the left-indent controller (the little blue triangle icon and rectangular icon) on the ruler to the desired position where you want to add the hanging indent.

Step 5
Now click on the right-ident (the little rectangular icon) on the ruler and move it to the desired position where you want to add the first-line indent.

And that’s it! You have successfully created a hanging indent in Google Docs using the ruler.
Method 3: Use The Keyboard Shortcut To Create A Hanging Indent In Google Docs
The third method of creating a hanging indent in Google Docs is by using the tab key. This is the most hands-on method, but it is only valid for two lines or smaller paragraphs. Just follow these steps:
Step 1
Open Google Docs and add the desired text to create a hanging indent.
Step 2
Position your cursor at the end of the first line and press “Shift+Enter”. This will add a line break after the line.
Step 3
Hit the tab key on your keyboard twice. This will create a small space at the beginning of the line.

That’s it! As you see, this shortcut method is suitable for small amounts of text, but if you want to indent an enormous paragraph, it’s better to use the other methods!
Conclusion
These are the three methods you can use to create a hanging indent in Google Docs. Try them out and see which one works best for you. Which way do you prefer more? Let us know in the comments below!