numbering paragraphs in Pages

When I select paragraphs and number them in Pages, the numbers occur in the space between the paragraphs as well. How do you number so just the paragraphs have numbers, and not the spaces between?

MacBook Air (M2, 2022)

Posted on Feb 16, 2025 04:35 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 17, 2025 11:50 AM

Hi Cindy,


I do't know about Word. In Pages, Find & Replace (command F). Double paragraphs \n\n with single \n


Then Select All (command A) and change space After Paragraph.


Regards,

Ian.


10 replies

Feb 17, 2025 01:20 AM in response to cindyjj

Hi Cindy,


If you are pressing return as the spacer between paragraphs, those extra returns are blank paragraphs. Those blank paragraphs will follow the numbering in a list.


You can delete those blank paragraphs and use Format Panel (on the right) > Text > Spacing > After Paragraph. That will space your paragraphs without numbering the spaces between.


This is what I think you are doing:



Try this. Remove the double returns and set After Paragraph to match your font size.



Regards,

Ian.

Feb 25, 2025 05:28 AM in response to cindyjj

I start with this example:



and by applying Ian's Find/Replace:



Selecting all three paragraphs up to but not including that last paragraph mark, I then visit Spacing > After Paragraph and click on the increase increment arrow to watch the spacing between every selected paragraph increase. For the orphaned 4, I can position the insertion beam behind it and press backspace to remove it.


Not quite sure how you have remaining numbered paragraphs after Ian's Find/Replace example.

Feb 17, 2025 09:53 AM in response to Yellowbox

Hi Ian,


Do I have to remove all the paragraph marks manually? That isn't feasible on documents that are 100 pages long. I'm copying from a Word document and pasting in Pages. If they have to be removed manually, is there a way to remove them all at once in Word and then paste them in Pages so I don't have to remove them manually?


Thanks.

Feb 24, 2025 07:56 PM in response to VikingOSX


VikingOSX wrote:

The sun is barely up in Australia time Tuesday, so Ian probably hasn't finished his first beer or coffee yet.


Hi Viking,

I awoke at daybreak to the sound of kookaburras and magpies. I leapt out of bed, did my usual 10 kilometre run, bought the morning papers and did the crosswords. After my usual breakfast of 24 beers, a "Grandpa Nap" and 10 coffees, I thought that Format Panel > Text > Spacing > After Paragraph should match the font size of the paragraphs in the list. As a starting point at least.


In my dreams! Zzzz

Ian.



This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

numbering paragraphs in Pages

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.