Pages: how do I turn off auto formatting and auto indenting!

I've got Pages 5.2.2 and for the life of me can't figure out how to turn off auto formatting!


When I hit return to move text to a new line, Pages automatically indents the new line, creating a new paragraph which is not what I want at all.


I'm using a blank template and have not altered the default settings at all. Any geniuses out there who can help?

MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Nov 1, 2014 6:04 AM

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Posted on Nov 1, 2014 8:41 AM

Return is supposed to insert a paragraph return; that is why it's called return.


Normally, in a word processor you don't do anything to move to a new line, it happens automatically when you get to the margin. If you want to produce a new line without getting a new paragraph, you can insert a soft return, by holding the shift key and hitting return.

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Nov 1, 2014 8:41 AM in response to icelandeyes

Return is supposed to insert a paragraph return; that is why it's called return.


Normally, in a word processor you don't do anything to move to a new line, it happens automatically when you get to the margin. If you want to produce a new line without getting a new paragraph, you can insert a soft return, by holding the shift key and hitting return.

Nov 1, 2014 9:47 AM in response to icelandeyes

If not already present, turn on your document rulers via View > Show Rulers. Does a ¯ symbol appear by itself, or is it accompanied by an inverted triangle below it? The first symbol indicates that you have a First Indent set to other than 0. The inverted triangle says that you also have the Left indent set to the First indent amount.


In Pages, if a First indent is set, any hard return will invoke a new paragraph with an auto-indent corresponding to the First Indent amount. First lines will be indented, and subsequent lines are flush left margin (unless Left indent is not 0). In word processing, we only do hard returns when we deliberately want a new paragraph. If you want to force an end of a sentence, without forming a new paragraph, with/out auto-indent effect, use either shift+enter, or control+enter.


The First, and Left indent settings in Pages v5.2.2 are here:

Toolbar > Format > Text > Layout

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Pages: how do I turn off auto formatting and auto indenting!

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