How to Align Text After a Bullet in PowerPoint

PowerPoint allows you to insert bulleted text and customize the alignment. The ribbon commands help you adjust the space around the bullet graphic and the text. PowerPoint also lets you move the bulleted text around the placeholder on the slide. The built-in ruler features tools that position each indented and bulleted line for a consistent look on the slide layout. Your precisely arranged text will help draw your clients’ attention to the essential points you wish to communicate.

Align Bulleted Text

Open the PowerPoint presentation and then click the “Normal” button on the status bar to display the slide pane and command ribbon. Navigate to the slide that contains the bulleted text.

Click and drag the bulleted text on the slide to highlight and select.

Click the “Home” tab on the command ribbon and then click one of the four Alignment buttons in the Paragraph group: Align Left (Ctrl+L), Center (Ctrl+E), Align Right (Ctrl+R) or Justify.

Align in a Placeholder

Click in the placeholder that contains your bulleted text and then click the “Home” tab on the command ribbon.

Click the “Align Text” button in the Paragraph group and then click the “More Options” button to display the Format Shape pane at the right side of the PowerPoint window. Click the “Text Options” tab and then click the “Text Box” button that displays the icon with an “A” on a lined page to show the Text Box options.

Click the "Vertical Alignment" drop-down list and then click “Top,” “Middle,” “Bottom,” “Top Centered,” “Middle Centered” or “Bottom Centered.”

Click the "Text Direction" drop-down list and then click “Horizontal,” “Rotate All Text 90º,” “Rotate All Text 270º” or “Stacked.”

Click the "Order of Lines" drop-down list and then click “Left-to-Right” or “Right-to-Left” to adjust the order of the bulleted lines.

Adjust the Indent

Click the “View” tab on the command ribbon and then click the “Slide Master” button in the Master Views group.

Click the “View” tab and then click the “Ruler” button to select the check box and display the ruler over the slide.

Click and drag the bulleted text to highlight and select.

Click and drag the first-line indent marker, located on the top half of the ruler, to adjust the space between the bullet graphic and the following text. Drag the first-line indent marker farther to the right on the ruler to increase the space between the bullet graphic and the text.

Click and drag the top arrow on the left indent marker, located above the ruler’s lower border, to adjust the position of the text. The bullet graphic will remain in position.

Click and drag the rectangle on the left text indent marker to move the indents and keep the space between the bullet and the text.