If you’re formatting a formal document, one of the most useful tools is the justification setting. Whether you’re creating a resume, writing an essay, or preparing a business proposal, knowing how to justify text in Google Docs can help you create a clean, professional appearance.
Justified text aligns evenly along both the left and right margins, giving your document a polished, book-style layout. Let’s look at how to apply this in just a few clicks.
Why Use Justified Text in Google Docs?
Justification is especially helpful when you want:
- 📘 A formal or printed-book style
- 🧾 Consistent alignment across all lines
- 🧑🎓 Professional documents like theses or reports
- 📄 Better visual flow in long-form text
Justified text is commonly used in newspapers, academic writing, and legal documents to give a clean edge on both sides of the page.
Step-by-Step: How to Justify Text in Google Docs
Here’s the simplest way to justify any portion of your text:
- Open your document in Google Docs
- Highlight the text you want to justify
- Go to the toolbar at the top
- Click the “Justify” icon (four horizontal lines aligned on both sides)
- Alternatively, use the menu: Format > Align & indent > Justified
✅ Done! Your selected text is now fully justified.
🖱️ Keyboard Shortcut for Justify
For quick formatting, use this shortcut:
- Windows:
Ctrl + Shift + J - Mac:
Command + Shift + J
💡 You can use this shortcut anytime to toggle justification for highlighted text.
How to Justify All Text in a Document
Want to justify your entire Google Doc?
- Press
Ctrl + A(orCommand + A) to select all text - Use the Justify icon or keyboard shortcut
- All your paragraphs will now align left and right
🔁 You can repeat this any time after editing for consistent formatting.
Adjusting Justified Text for Better Results
Sometimes justification may cause large gaps. Here are some tips:
- 🧩 Use hyphenation manually to reduce word spacing
- 🖋️ Avoid double spaces after periods
- 🔠 Stick to standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman for better spacing
- 📐 Set line spacing to 1.15 or 1.5 for cleaner blocks
With minor adjustments, your justified layout will look smooth and professional.
When Not to Justify Text
While justified text looks clean, it’s not always the best choice. Avoid it in:
- 📋 Bullet points and lists
- 🗒️ Informal notes or messages
- 🧑💻 Code snippets or monospaced formatting
- 🗂️ Documents with narrow columns (e.g. tables or newsletters)
Use left alignment for casual or free-form content.
FAQs: How to Justify Text in Google Docs
What does “justify text” mean in Google Docs?
It means aligning text evenly on both left and right margins, creating a block-style look.
Is there a shortcut to justify text?
Yes. On Windows: Ctrl + Shift + J. On Mac: Command + Shift + J.
Why does justified text look uneven sometimes?
It can create large spaces between words if the sentence is short or has long words. Adjust manually or use hyphenation.
Can I justify only part of my document?
Absolutely. Just highlight the section you want to justify before applying the formatting.
Will justification carry over when exporting to PDF?
Yes. Google Docs retains text alignment when exporting or printing your document.
Can I justify text in the mobile app?
Unfortunately, text justification is not available in the mobile version of Google Docs at this time.
Conclusion: Justify Text in Google Docs for a Professional Look
Now that you know how to justify text in Google Docs, you can give your writing the clean, aligned look it deserves. Whether it’s an academic paper, a report, or a print-ready file, justified text adds that extra level of polish.
Use it wisely, combine it with smart spacing, and let your content shine with perfect alignment!
Complete List of Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
If you need help for Windows, you can find a whole list of all keyboard shortcuts here.
https://keyboard-shortcuts.org/
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