Applying a style to a paragraph applies it to entire document

liziloo · August 25, 2025, 4:15pm

This is driving me batty.

I want to apply the default Block Quotation style to several paragraphs in my document. But no matter how I try, it reformats the entire document.

I’ve tried putting the cursor in the text of the paragraph and double-clicking the style in the sidebar.
I’ve tried using the dropdown menu the same way.
I’ve tried selecting the paragraphs and applying the style.
I’ve tried selecting the paragraphs and manually applying indentation with the ruler at the top.

Nothing works. No matter what I do, it changes everything in the whole document.

Thanks in advance for any help.

ETA: Windows 11

ajlittoz · August 25, 2025, 4:22pm

You are probably under Window$ (OS not mentioned) where this OS has a tendency to return line breaks instead of paragraph breaks under bizarre circumstances. To make sure, enable View>Formatting Marks. Paragraph breaks look like mirrored P (the symbol is called pilcrow) while line breaks are shown as a down-then-left arrow.

Line breaks are normally generated by pressing Shift+Enter while paragraph breaks are simply Enter.

Your first task is to rebuild the “normal” paragraph structure of your document. After that, you can apply separate paragraph styles to paragraphs.

PS: when asking here, always mention OS name, exact LO version and save format.

liziloo · August 25, 2025, 4:41pm

I’m sure this is the problem, as I can see that they are only line breaks. However, holding Shift and Enter simply adds a paragraph break, as well. Holding Ctrl + Enter creates a line break. And I can’t find another way to enter a paragraph break from a menu.

liziloo · August 25, 2025, 4:42pm

And yes, it’s Windows, whatever the latest is–11?

ajlittoz · August 25, 2025, 5:15pm

No, Shift+Enter is a line break and Ctrl+Enter is a page break.

If you get something different, check your keyboard and its configuration.

liziloo · August 25, 2025, 5:27pm

Thank you!

I mistyped (forgive me, sleep deprived). But somehow you still found the solution. Hitting just Enter is working now. Not sure why it didn’t before. I was copy and pasting from another file, so mayhaps there was already a line break, and hitting return simply added another line break because of that.