How to Use Tab Stops in Google Docs

One of the ways to ensure the text of a Google Docs file has uniform spacing is by using tab stops. A tab stop is where the cursor in your Google Doc stops when you tap the Tab key on your keyboard. Word processing apps such as Google Docs and Microsoft Word have default tab stops ready for use. Users can also adjust the tab stops to suit the need of the document being worked on.

Setting up the tab stop of your Google Docs reduces the time you have to spend formatting the document later on. The tab stops also ensure that your document is properly aligned during printing. Here’s how to set the tab stops in Google Docs:

How to Show the Google Docs Ruler

The Google Docs ruler has several uses, including creating tab stops. Here’s how to ensure the ruler is visible in your document:

Step 1: On your preferred web browser, open the Google Docs file. If you have the Google Docs app, you can launch it and open your document.

Step 2: On the Google Docs Ribbon, click the View tab.

Step 3: Select Show ruler from the View options. This should display the Ruler around the Google Docs file.

You can also follow the steps above to hide the Google Docs ruler.

How to Set a Tab Stop Using the Ruler in Google Docs

Here’s how to set a tab stop using the Google Docs ruler:

Step 1: On the Google Docs file, select the text you want to adjust with a tab stop.

Step 2: Click on the Google Docs ruler at the spot where you want the tab stop placed. This will launch a menu.

Step 3: From the menu, select any of the options below:

• Add left tab-stop
• Add center tab-stop
• Add right tab-stop

The tab stop should now feature in your Google Docs. However, to confirm, ensure you check for the triangle and kite symbols on the Google Docs ruler representing the tab stops.

How to Align Text to a Tab Stop

Here’s how to align the text within your document to a tab stop.

Step 1: On the Google Docs file, place your cursor in the position where you want to start the text adjustment from.

Step 2: Tap the tab key on your keyboard to begin moving the text to the location of the tab stop. Note that each time you tap the tab key, by default, the text will move by 0.5 inches every time.

How to Edit or Move a Tab Stop

If you would like to change the positioning of your tab stop, here’s what you should do:

Step 1: On the Google Docs file, select the text you want to reposition.

Step 2: Click and drag a tab stop on the ruler to reposition it. Note that as you drag the tab stop to a different position on the ruler, your highlighted text will move with it.

How to Remove a Tab Stop

If you decide that you would rather have a center tab stop instead of a left tab stop in your document or you would like to remove all tab stops altogether, here’s what you should do:

Step 1: On the Google Docs file, click the tab stop you would like to remove.

Step 2: Drag the tab stop downwards.

By removing a tab stop, the text in your Google Docs will shift over to the next tab stop in the document. However, if there are no tab stops set in your document, the text will assume the default 0.5-inch tab spacing.

Setting Tab Stops in Microsoft Word

As previously mentioned, tab stops exist in the default setting of most word processors. This also includes Microsoft Word. Like Google Docs, you can set the tab stops in your Word document to align or indent your text.