Reducing the Size of Spaces in a Selection

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 27, 2023)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021


1

George would like to condense only the space between words in some text he selects in a document. He can change the point size of each space, one at a time. He can also do it by finding the space and replacing it with a space that is a smaller font size. However, he would like to decrease the size of the spaces step by step. (For example, 0.1 points in each step.)

It isn't possible to do exactly what George wants because Word only allows you to adjust font size in half-point increments, not tenth-point increments. If decrementing by a half-point at a time will do, then the best approach is to use a macro:

Sub StepSpaceFontSize()
    Dim F As Double
    Dim C As Long

    For C = 1 To Len(Selection)
        If Asc(Mid(Selection, C, 1)) = 32 Then
            F = Selection.Range.Characters(C).Font.Size
            If F > 5 Then
                Selection.Range.Characters(C).Font.Size = (F - 0.5)
            End If
        End If
    Next C
End Sub

The macro steps through each character in whatever text is selected and, if the character is a space, decreases the point size of just that space. The macro enforces a bottom limit on font size, as it will only go down to 5 points.

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the WordTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (13717) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Transposing Two Characters

If you have two characters in the wrong order, you might be interested in a shortcut you can use to switch their order. ...

Discover More

Shortcut for Show/Hide

Hate to take your hands off the keyboard? Here's a handy keyboard shortcut you can use to display (or not display) the ...

Discover More

Aligning Numbered Lists on the Period

When you convert a paragraph to a numbered list, Word adds a number at the start of the paragraph, as you would expect. ...

Discover More

Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 365 applications with VBA programming. Written in clear terms and understandable language, the book includes systematic tutorials and contains both intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers. Designed to be comprehensive, the book addresses not just one Office application, but the entire Office suite. Check out Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 365 today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Determining the Current Directory

When creating macros, it is often necessary to know which directory is the default. Here's how you can find out by using ...

Discover More

Calculated Dates

Word makes it easy to insert today's date in a document, but not as easy to insert a date X number of days in the future. ...

Discover More

Determining the Number of Pages in Your Document

If your macro needs to know how many pages are in your document, you can use the Information method to get the desired ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 9 - 7?

2019-12-28 06:47:20

Ken Endacott

The macro must be executed for each 0.5 point reduction in space size. The following macro repeats the reductions until cancelled.

Sub StepSpaceSize()
Dim aRange As Range
Dim k As Long
Dim F As Single
Set aRange = Selection.Range
Do While MsgBox("Reduce all spaces in selection by 0.5 points", vbOKCancel) = vbOK
k = 1
Do
If aRange.Characters(k) = " " Then
F = aRange.Characters(k).Font.Size
aRange.Characters(k).Font.Size = F - 0.5
End If
k = k + 1
Loop Until k > Len(aRange.Text)
aRange.Select
Loop
End Sub


This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.