Why is there extra space between paragraphs I can't remove?

Word adds 'Space After' paragraphs by default (usually 8pt). Select the text, go to Layout > Spacing, and set 'After' to 0. Or check Home > Line Spacing > Remove Space After Paragraph.

Fix: Line Spacing Wrong or Extra Space Between Lines in Word

Fixing Line Spacing Issues

Line spacing problems are among the most common formatting frustrations in Word. Here’s how to get exact control over your spacing.

Étapes de résolution

Problem: Lines Are Double-Spaced When You Want Single

Select all text with Ctrl+A (or select specific paragraphs)
Go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing button
Click 1.0 for single spacing
For exact spacing, click Line Spacing Options
Set Line spacing to Single or Exactly with a specific point size

Problem: Extra Space Between Paragraphs

Select the paragraphs
Go to Layout > Spacing
Set Before and After to 0 pt
Or use the shortcut: Home > Line Spacing > Remove Space After Paragraph

Problem: Line Spacing Won’t Change

This usually means direct formatting is overriding your changes:

Select the text
Press Ctrl+Q to clear paragraph formatting
Reapply the desired line spacing

Problem: Different Spacing in Different Parts of the Document

Press Ctrl+A to select all
Go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > Line Spacing Options
Set consistent spacing for the entire document
Click OK

For Academic Papers

Common requirements:

APA: Double-spaced (2.0), no extra spacing before/after paragraphs
MLA: Double-spaced (2.0), no extra spacing
Chicago: Double-spaced (2.0) for body text, single-spaced for block quotes

Set these via Home > Line Spacing > 2.0 and Layout > Spacing > Before: 0pt, After: 0pt