Hanging Indent Formatter
Format your bibliography with proper hanging indents. Paste your entries below and copy the formatted result for APA, MLA, or Chicago reference lists.
Indent size
Line spacing
Hanging Indent Rules
APA 7th Edition
Use a 0.5-inch hanging indent for all reference list entries. Double-space the entire reference list. The first line of each entry is flush left, with subsequent lines indented.
MLA 9th Edition
Use a 0.5-inch hanging indent for all Works Cited entries. Double-space the entire list. Do not add extra space between entries.
Chicago Manual of Style
Use a hanging indent (typically 0.5 inches) for bibliography entries. Single-space within entries, and add a blank line between entries, or double-space throughout.
Related Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a hanging indent?
- A hanging indent is a formatting style where the first line of a paragraph is flush left and all subsequent lines are indented. It is required for APA, MLA, and Chicago reference lists.
- How much should a hanging indent be?
- The standard hanging indent is 0.5 inches (1.27 cm) from the left margin. This is the default in APA, MLA, and Chicago style guides.
- How do I create a hanging indent in Word?
- In Microsoft Word, select your references, go to Format > Paragraph, and under 'Special' select 'Hanging'. Set the indent to 0.5 inches. This tool formats the text so you can paste it directly.
- Do all citation styles require hanging indents?
- Most major styles including APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard require hanging indents in their reference lists. Vancouver and IEEE, which use numbered references, typically do not.