How to Eliminate Large Spaces Between Paragraphs in Formatted Text in Microsoft Word

1. Open the Microsoft Word file in which you want to eliminate a large space. Press the 'Ctrl,' 'Shift' and '8' keys on your keyboard to show all formatting marks. If a paragraph mark -- it looks like a backwards 'P' -- appears in the space between the paragraphs, then click on it. Press 'Delete' on your keyboard.
2. Press the 'Ctrl,' 'Shift' and '8' keys again, after removing all extraneous paragraph marks, to hide the formatting marks.
3. Click at the beginning of the troubling paragraphs if large spaces still separate them, drag the cursor to the end of the paragraphs and then release.
4. Click the 'Page Layout' tab.
5. Click the downward arrow on the right of the 'Before' field, in the Paragraph group. Continue clicking the arrow until the field displays a smaller number if you want a smaller space between the paragraphs, or until it says '0 pt' if you want no extra space between paragraphs.
6. Click the downward arrow on the right of the 'After' field, in the Paragraph group, until it displays a smaller number or a zero.