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I'd like to do the following:

 - 2010 - 2013          bla bla bla bla
                        bla bla bla bla

 - 2005                 bla bla bla bla

but what I get is:

 - 2010 - 2013          bla bla bla bla
   bla bla bla bla

 - 2005                 bla bla bla bla

When I press Tab on the second line it shifts the whole passage as follows:

             - 2010 - 2013          bla bla bla bla
               bla bla bla bla

             - 2005                 bla bla bla bla

Nothing I do does not shift the second line to the place I want, nor does the space key (space key does nothing on the start of second line).

Any thoughts?

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9
  • 1
    Are you using Word?
    – Math
    Commented Sep 30, 2013 at 20:14
  • 2
    option: Use a table.
    – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007
    Commented Sep 30, 2013 at 20:15
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    It very trivial, but have you pressed [Enter] one the second line and than tried to use the [tab]? I'm not sure, but maybe it will remove the lock of the list. So first press [Enter] on the second line than try to use [tab].
    – Christian
    Commented Sep 30, 2013 at 20:18
  • @Chris - yeah I was thinking similarly. If they didn't hit Enter then they're probably just stuffing Tabs into the word-wrapped line, so instead of showing up in front of line 2, they're being appended to the end of Line 1. :)
    – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007
    Commented Sep 30, 2013 at 20:20
  • yes i'm using WORD as the headline says :). i've tried both with enter and without both fail to work. i can not use a table nor do i see the need.. there should be a simple solution.
    – ben
    Commented Sep 30, 2013 at 20:21

4 Answers 4

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There are a few ways to do this.

First, if you press tab on the 2nd line, you have to press tab with the cursor at the start of the text on that line, not at the start of the line.

Second, you could turn off the auto-format options. Click the round button at the top left, then the Word Options button. Choose "Proofing" on the left, and then click the box for "Autocorrect Options". On the "Auto-Format As You Type" tab, near the top, uncheck "Other Paragraph Styles". Also uncheck "Set left- and first- indent with tabs and backspaces"; this is otherwise referred to as "auto indent".

Third, you could do it the way I do it, quirky as it is: Under Word Options, Advanced, go to "Compatibility Options for ..." and pick one of the WordPerfect options. Then expand the + next to Layout Options ,right below that, and check mark "Don't add automatic Tab Stop for Hanging Indent".

Fourth, make sure that the first line's tab is not a "first line tab indent", per http://www.gcflearnfree.org/word2007/21.3 , which also tells you how to change it into a normal left tab, if it is. Regular left tabs can be inserted with Ctrl-T.

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1

I know this thread is old but in case anyone else comes looking.

A simple solution is to place your cursor at the beginning of the second line of text and use ctrl+tab. This is especially useful for a second line tab in a numbered or bulleted list).

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You could try moving the paragraph of the second line to match the position of the first line text.

But I must say the method you described works just fine for me, you could try checking your options.

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You could format your paragraph style to Hanging....

enter image description here

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