Wordpad. Annoying double spacing of sentences when pressing Enter key

Caslon · 31 Jul 2016

I'm not that proficient when using Wordpad. When typing sentences and hitting the Enter key, Wordpad double spaces down (1.5 or whatever) before the next sentence starts. This happens even when I copy sentences with single spacing as the original text. Wordpad wants to open that copied text with double spacing between the sentences.

I fiddle around with it and eventually get it to work, then forget how I did it. I'd like to force a default single spacing between sentences upon pressing the Enter key. When I do set it to single space sentences, it defaults to double spacing them when re-opening Wordpad. If there's some registry setting to single space by default, I'm game.

MoxieMomma · 01 Aug 2016

Hi:

The double-line space when hitting "enter" is the norm in most editors now.

Easiest workaround: use Shift+Enter to get a single line space.
Of course, you don't use the "+" key -- just the SHIFT key and the ENTER key.
(I tried it just now on one of my Win7 boxes and it works.)

It's a PITA at first, but not bad once one gets used to it.

HTH,
MM

Layback Bear · 01 Aug 2016

I just tried MoxieMomma suggestion and it also works for me.

Just a note.
I solved such a problem by using Jarte free or paid for.

FREE Word Processor Based on Microsoft's WordPad Engine

Caslon · 02 Aug 2016

Here's a workaround that's kinda lame but... 1. Open Wordpad...type one letter. 2. Make the adjustments you want from the Wordpad panel (such as line spacing). 3. Click Save As (name it Wordpad ONE or whatever) and save it to a directory (to a directory where it won't get deleted). 4. Open the directory containing the newly named Wordpad file. 5. Right click on the file and click Create a Shortcut. 6. Drag that newly created Shortcut file to your desktop or to your Start button (it'll appear on the Start Menu list).

Now open WordPad by clicking on the the desktop shortcut, or, the Start Menu list and it will open WordPad with your modifications, with one exception, they'll be that one letter you typed in that you have to backspace out each time WordPad opens.

Even tho this isn't much of a great workaround, I find it quicker than WordPad opening text that I copy or paste with double line spacing and my having to adjust it each time.

Lady Fitzgerald · 02 Aug 2016

To stop WordPad from adding space after a paragraph, at the top of the window, there is a box labeled "Paragraph". At the top of that box are three smaller boxes. Click on the third box. In the box that pops up, click on "Add 10 pt space after paragraphs" to deselect it.

You will have to do this every time you start a new document unless you use Caslon's work around (btw, you don't need to type a letter to save the modified document). When saving a document made from the workaround document, be sure to use Save As instead of Save.

I personally prefer to use Word over WordPad since it has more features and is far more flexible. Word uses a default document that you can make permanent formatting changes to.

Caslon · 02 Aug 2016

Thanks for the tip on not needing a letter typed in with my workaround. You know, after I made the WordPad file and placed it in a safe place, I made a shortcut of it which allowed me to change the icon to make it look similar to the official WordPad icon, then named it Wordpad and placed it in my Start menu list. It looks just like the real thing, only with my modifications. I'm happy with it now.