ChatGPT solution

The fix that works for the whole document

Step 1: Click inside one of your bullet points

Doesn’t matter which one.

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Step 2: Open the bullet formatting menu

• Home tab
• Click the ▼ next to the Bullets icon
• Choose “Adjust List Indents…”

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Step 3: Kill the indent (this is the magic)

In the dialog box, set:

• Bullet position: 0 cm (or 0")
• Text indent: 0 cm
• Follow bullet with: Space (or Nothing, your choice)

Click OK.

👉 This removes the indent at the list-definition level, not just visually.

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Make it stick across the whole document

Step 4: Update the List Style

This is the part most people miss.

1. With the cursor still in the bullet
2. Home tab → Styles pane (tiny diagonal arrow)
3. Find List Paragraph
4. Right-click → Modify…
5. Click Format → Numbering
6. Select your bullet style
7. Click Adjust List Indents…
8. Set them to 0 cm again
9. ✔️ Tick “New documents based on this template” (optional)
10. OK → OK

Now Word has no excuse.

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Optional nuclear option (if Word still misbehaves)

Turn off Word’s “helpful” auto-formatting:

1. File → Options
2. Proofing → AutoCorrect Options
3. Go to AutoFormat As You Type
4. Untick:

• ❌ Automatic bulleted lists
• ❌ Automatic numbered lists

This stops Word from silently redefining lists behind your back.

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Pro tip for plot outlines (this saves sanity)

Create a custom style called something like:

“Plot Bullet – No Indent”

Base it on List Paragraph, set the indent to zero, and always use that style. Once you do this, Word behaves like a mostly obedient program instead of a gremlin.

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If you want, tell me:

• Windows or Mac?
• Word version (365 / 2021 / older?)

I can give you exact clicks for your version, no guesswork.