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DEAR MICROSOFT: CHANGE THE MARGINS

Target:
Microsoft Corporation
Sponsored by: 
I believe that a small change in habits can lead to a big change in the world. So here's a simple idea that could make a big difference to the health of our planet.

Please help me convince Microsoft Corporation to change the default margin settings in their Microsoft Word software.

The default margins for Microsoft Word are set at 1.25" on each side. According to the good people on the Microsoft Help line, there is no technical reason for this. It's merely a convention we have all gotten used to. Documents will print just as easily if you change the margins to .75" on each side. If you do so, you'll fit more text on each page...saving paper...saving trees...creating less waste. A nice side effect? You'll also save some money!

Of course, the goal is to get as many people change their margins as possible, which means making it as easy as possible to do. We can all change our margins individually each time we print a document, but let's be honest - we're all just a little lazy.

So let's make Going Green as convenient as possible. If Microsoft Corporation changed their software so that the default margins for Microsoft Word were set to .75", you wouldn't have to even think about it. One easy fix, one big change, one step to a healthier planet.

For more information about the campaign, stats, updates and resources, please go to http://www.changethemargins.com/.
I believe that a small change in habits can lead to a big change in the world. So here's a simple idea that could make a big difference to the health of our planet.

Please help me convince Microsoft Corporation to change the default margin settings in their Microsoft Word software.

The default margins for Microsoft Word are set at 1.25" on each side. According to the good people on the Microsoft Help line, there is no technical reason for this. It's merely a convention we have all gotten used to. Documents will print just as easily if you change the margins to .75" on each side. If you do so, you'll fit more text on each page...saving paper...saving trees...creating less waste. A nice side effect? You'll also save some money!

Of course, the goal is to get as many people change their margins as possible, which means making it as easy as possible to do. We can all change our margins individually each time we print a document, but let's be honest - we're all just a little lazy.

So let's make Going Green as convenient as possible. If Microsoft Corporation changed their software so that the default margins for Microsoft Word were set to .75", you wouldn't have to even think about it. One easy fix, one big change, one step to a healthier planet.

For more information about the campaign, stats, updates and resources, please go to http://www.changethemargins.com/.
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We signed the "DEAR MICROSOFT: CHANGE THE MARGINS" petition!
# 3,349:
11:15 am PST, Nov 13, Beth Pare, Massachusetts
I have always done this, and think having it as default only makes sense.

I use Microsoft Word.

# 3,348:
5:52 pm PST, Nov 9, Miriam Yarmolinsky, Maryland
Please change the default margins of Word to less than .75"; it's amazing how many people don't bother to question or tinker with the default settings of most software programs. With climate change clearly underway, Microsoft could send a positive green message by taking up with our albeit small but growing group of petitioners' request for minimizing the margins.

I use most Microsoft products, and have since mid 1990s. Please do the 'right' thing and assist us w/ making less of a dent on the environment and biosphere!

# 3,347:
7:34 pm PDT, Oct 27, S Mete, California
# 3,346:
8:15 pm PDT, Oct 26, Rishi Menon, Missouri
# 3,345:
11:42 pm PDT, Oct 22, Jake Turner, Arizona
Let's save the world!
# 3,344:
11:07 am PDT, Oct 13, Sundae Ford, Florida
# 3,343:
11:05 am PDT, Sep 24, Kim Bent, Massachusetts
Honestly I do change them all the time myself and it would be a real help if you change the margins.

I use MS Word all the time!

# 3,342:
11:33 am PDT, Sep 23, Eloi Courchesne, Canada
This needs to be done! The margins are much too wide. Worldwide, this little measure would save an immense quantity of trees.

I use Word 2003.

# 3,341:
7:35 am PDT, Sep 19, Heather Hayward, Maine
# 3,340:
11:52 pm PDT, Sep 17, Katie Leone, Ohio
This is a small thing that could make a big difference, and it wouldn't be very hard to do.

I use office 2007

# 3,339:
7:46 pm PDT, Sep 13, LeAndria Corbett, Arkansas
# 3,338:
11:44 am PDT, Sep 10, Katelyn Beddall, Pennsylvania
# 3,337:
8:45 pm PDT, Sep 9, April Doroski, Pennsylvania
# 3,336:
8:46 am PDT, Sep 9, Liovani Nazario, Florida
# 3,335:
4:16 pm PDT, Sep 8, Anaikia Bridges, Pennsylvania
Microsoft Word
# 3,334:
12:59 pm PDT, Sep 8, Lily Gharib, Pennsylvania
I know how easy it is to just manually format the margins to make them smaller, but many people don't know how to do this, or simply forget. Plus, there really is no down side to having smaller margins and saving trees! :)

Microsoft Word

# 3,333:
11:58 am PDT, Sep 8, Name not displayed, Pennsylvania
# 3,332:
10:06 am PDT, Sep 8, Rob Currie, Pennsylvania
Word
# 3,331:
9:44 am PDT, Sep 8, Marie Avicolli, Pennsylvania
I definitely agree with making double-sided printing standard as well...there are quite a few people that don't know how to change the settings (my parents) and so they just go along with whatever the standard settings are.

Microsoft Word

# 3,330:
8:44 am PDT, Sep 7, Christina Jackson, Pennsylvania
# 3,329:
10:34 am PDT, Sep 5, Roger Falcon, Massachusetts
It seems like such an easy step to change the margins when people print so they get more text per page, and Microsoft could tell the world about the good it is doing. You could also make double-sided printing standard while you're at it, and save even more paper! Why not?!?

Office Suite

# 3,328:
11:18 am PDT, Sep 1, Joseph Bateman, Utah
# 3,327:
10:08 am PDT, Aug 23, Name not displayed, Washington
While you're at it, reset the default font size to something just a tad smaller. That saves paper, too.

I'm using Office XP and Publisher 2003 at home, Office 2003 at work.

# 3,326:
1:12 pm PDT, Aug 19, Hannah Hagen-Atwell, Iowa
For all my papers I have to write at college I need to have 1" margins and double-spacing because I generally use APA style. In addition to targeting Microsoft to make a change we also should consider addressing the organizations that write the rules for the various styles of paper-writing (i.e. APA, MLA, Chicago, etc) who force a large group of people, students and researchers alike, to use more paper than necessary.

Microsoft Word

# 3,325:
10:25 am PDT, Aug 16, Michael Alilionis, New York
# 3,324:
5:39 am PDT, Aug 15, Stephen Montgomery, Armed Forces Europe
Please make the default change, and show that you care.

Microsoft Word

# 3,323:
4:35 pm PDT, Aug 14, Mary Siegler, Colorado
# 3,322:
11:46 am PDT, Aug 11, Name not displayed, California
# 3,321:
5:00 pm PDT, Aug 9, Name not displayed, Michigan
# 3,320:
4:43 pm PDT, Aug 9, Danielle Dickow, Michigan
I've been in the habit of reducing my margins to 1/2" for awhile - this is a simple way to save paper! Please reduce the default margins on the next release of Microsoft Word! Even having them at 3/4" will help save paper!

I use Microsoft Word at home and at the office.

# 3,319:
3:44 pm PDT, Aug 6, Name not displayed, Massachusetts
# 3,318:
6:23 pm PDT, Aug 4, Catherine Goggins, Virginia
This just makes sense.

Microsoft Word - Student Edition

# 3,317:
5:52 am PDT, Aug 4, Crystal Brandt, Maryland
# 3,316:
2:56 pm PDT, Aug 2, Michele Boutin, New Hampshire
Microsoft Word
# 3,315:
10:03 pm PDT, Aug 1, Cindy Marie Jenkins, California
I began changing my margins about a month ago; the extra room just isn't necessary.

Microsoft Word

# 3,314:
3:45 pm PDT, Aug 1, Berkeley Johnson, Utah
# 3,313:
8:58 am PDT, Aug 1, Brittany Swanson, Canada
Microsoft word
# 3,312:
11:06 am PDT, Jul 31, Kathy Drake, Massachusetts
There is no reason to have the margins be so large. I have set my own default to have the margins be smaller. Most college professors require them to be less as well.

Microsoft Word

# 3,311:
3:52 am PDT, Jul 31, Steven Doherty, Massachusetts
# 3,310:
4:51 pm PDT, Jul 30, Andrew Brown, South Carolina
There is no point in keeping the margins so small. Please set the default to use more of the page. Thanks,

MS Word, GoogleDocs

# 3,309:
4:01 pm PDT, Jul 30, Heather Brown, South Carolina
# 3,308:
9:05 am PDT, Jul 30, Nicholas Miceli, New Jersey
Microsoft Word and Works
# 3,307:
7:16 am PDT, Jul 30, Chenine Johnson, Massachusetts
# 3,306:
7:41 pm PDT, Jul 29, Julie Murphy, Florida
I strongly support the petition to change Microsoft Word's default margins to .75" on each side. Brilliant! Such a small action, but with such effective results and positive impact on our planet. Please oblige and make it easy for Microsoft users to save paper.

I use Microsoft Word.

# 3,305:
7:40 pm PDT, Jul 29, Malcolm Murphy, Florida
# 3,304:
2:17 pm PDT, Jul 29, Kelly Borden, Alabama
Why NOT do it??

Microsoft Word

# 3,303:
12:53 pm PDT, Jul 29, Chris Van Benthuysen, Illinois
Microsoft Word, Wordpad, Notepad, EditPad.
# 3,302:
11:07 am PDT, Jul 29, Matthew Dickson, Canada
Microsoft Word
# 3,301:
7:41 am PDT, Jul 29, Charles Lindquist, Michigan
As an educator, I see a tremendous amount of waste when it comes to paper. Increasing the default margins, a simple step, would allow for a much needed reduction of wasted paper.
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