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Archive Replay
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Sign of the Day
indent
The BSL sign for "indent" typically uses two flat hands to represent a page and a line moving inward, visually depicting text indentation
B1 Uncommon Noun British Sign Language (BSL) Technical
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Non-dominant hand forms a flat B-hand, palm facing slightly right/forward. Dominant hand forms a flat B-hand, palm facing down
Dominant flat hand moves horizontally inward from the edge of the non-dominant flat hand
When discussing text formatting, word processing, or document layout
Break It Down
Watch, build, and feel the movement
Use the numbered steps first, then check the sign anatomy cards to clean up the small details that make the sign look fluent instead of approximate.
How to form the sign
- Non-dominant B-hand palm slightly right, fingers forward, held at mid-chest
- Dominant B-hand palm down, fingers forward, pinky-edge touches non-dominant index-edge
- Move dominant hand smoothly and horizontally inward about 5-10cm
- Hold briefly to show the new starting point
Coach prompt
Practice signing "indent" while saying "move text in."
Signature details
Handshape
Non-dominant hand forms a flat B-hand, palm facing slightly right/forward. Dominant hand forms a flat B-hand, palm facing down · Code B
Dominant hand
Right
Symmetry
Asymmetric
Contact
Touch
Palm orientation
Dominant: Down; Non-dominant: Slightly right/forward
Eyebrows
Neutral
Eye gaze
Forward
Head movement
None
Mouth morpheme
None
Body shift
None
Use It Today
Move from recognition to real-life use
Everything below is designed to make the sign sticky: where it feels natural, what learners miss, and how to use it without sounding robotic.
Please indent the first line of the paragraph
Refers specifically to text indentation, not physical dents or recesses
Best fit: When discussing text formatting, word processing, or document layout
Mirror focus
Practice signing "indent" while saying "move text in."
Catch the slip
Ensure dominant hand moves horizontally inward from the non-dominant hand's edge
Use it today
Please indent the first line of the paragraph
Common mistakes: Confusing with 'margin' or 'paragraph'
When not to use it: Not for physical indentations or dents on objects
Regional note: None significant
Cultural note: None
1.[en] Indent the line. / BSL:[INDENT]
2.[en] Add an indent. / BSL:[ADD INDENT]
3.[en] Needs indent. / BSL:[NEED INDENT]
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Word web
Tab
Outdent
Tab
Paragraph
Text
Format
Margin
Text
Paragraph
Margin
Format
Tab
MARGIN: Often involves defining a boundary with flat hands. "Indent" specifically shows movement from that boundary inward. PARAGRAPH: Typically uses a P-handshape with a sweeping forward/downward motion, representing a new block of text, not the indentation itself. TAB: Often the same sign as "indent" when referring to the action in typing or text formatting
Computing
Text
Document
Formatting
BSL indent
sign for indent
text formatting BSL
computing
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