Microsoft Word has a number of built-in templates. In Microsoft Word 2010, 2013 and 2016, there is a premade screenplay template for Microsoft Word. How do you get to this screenplay template? Open a new document. Search templates using the word “screenplay”. Search for it in the database or search for it with Microsoft Office Online.

Setting up a screenplay format in Word is straightforward once you’re familiar with the right tools. We use styles and formatting options to define slug lines, character names, dialogue, and parentheticals to match industry standards. With screenplays, margins and spacing are fundamental, and here’s how you can set them: