No, tab characters don't behave predictably in centered paragraphs because
the tab goes to the next built-in (or custom) tab stop, and that will not be
a consistent distance from the number.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

"tvb68" wrote in message
...
Thanks! How could I not notice that 'follow by' was set to tab.
Interestingly, I could not change the spacing by playing with the tab
settings.

Tom


"Suzanne S. Barnhill" wrote in message
...
I think you may be choosing the right settings in the wrong place.

1. To center the paragraph itself, choose Center in the Format |
Paragraph
dialog.

2. In the Numbering dialog, choose Left (not Center) for the number
position.

3. If you haven't already done so, click More to expand the dialog. Then
change "Follow number with" from "Tab character" to "Space."

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the
newsgroup
so
all may benefit.

"tvb68" wrote in message
...
Hello,
In Word 2003, the "Heading 1" style (modified to include chapter
numbers) behaves very strangely. When set to centre, it centres the
number
(i. e. with words CHAPTER 1, the digit 1 will be cantered).
Additionally,
there is an "empty" tab-like space after the number that cannot be
deleted
(so words like "CHAPTER 1 - TITLE" look "CHAPTER 1 - TITLE"). The
same
happens if the numbering is set to include the word CHAPTER and with
any
other alignment. Adjusting the numbering list does not help - there
are
always the alignment and tab-like spacing problems.

Does anyone know any way around?

Thanks

Tom