How to keep numbered list at left margin?

[Joan]

I want to keep my numbered list at the left margin. I
will type item number one at the left margin, but as soon
as I hit the enter key, the first item and the
consecutive numbered items always indent over about three
spaces to the right. I have tried changing this
under "Format, Bullets and Numbering," but it still keeps
indenting over when I hit the enter key. Please help if
you know a solution to this.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

There are two reasons this is happening. The first is that you have
"Automatic numbered lists" checked on the AutoFormat As You Type tab of
Tools | AutoCorrect Options. Without this, you could type and number
paragraphs manually; with it enabled, as soon as you press enter at the end
of a manually numbered paragraph, Word applies automatic numbering and in
Word 2002 the default format for numbered lists is indented.

You will find it much more satisfactory to disable these automatic features
(and avoid the Numbering button on the Formatting toolbar) and instead apply
the List Number style, which is left-aligned at the left margin by default.
Not only is it formatted the way you want (and can be modified to have any
other formatting you like), but your numbering will be less troublesome if
you use a numbered style than if you apply numbering to Normal or any other
style.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.mvps.org/word
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