Google Docs Formatting – How to Enter Leading Tab

formattinggoogle docs

I have two images and two labels:

|--------------|            |---------------------|
|              |            |                     |
|--------------|            |---------------------|
     Image1                          Image2

Both labels are aligned using center tab stops. How do I enter a 'Tab' symbol as the first symbol in the line? (when I push Tab there, the indentation changes instead)

Best Answer

Note that the problem only occurs the paragraph already has some content (text or inline images) and you try to insert a TAB at the start of the line.

Here are 3 workarounds to pick from:

  • Type a SPACE then a TAB. That will enter a regular TAB. You can then delete the SPACE if you wish. Or use a PERIOD instead of a SPACE to make it visible and easier to remember to delete.
  • Copy a TAB from anywhere in the doc, then paste it in at the start of the paragraph.
  • With the caret at the start of the paragraph:
    1. Type a RETURN to insert a new paragraph before the one you want to change.
    2. Tap the up-arrow key to move the caret to the empty new paragraph.
    3. Type in a TAB.
    4. Delete the newline at the end of this new paragraph, e.g. type fn-DELETE on Mac, or (I think) DELETE (instead of BACKSPACE) on Windows/Linux, or right-arrow then BACKSPACE.
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