Getting the first tab setting for all of the numbered paragraphs far enough to the right so that the first tab space is an adequate distance from ALL of the paragraph numbers (the suggestion I made above) is the only way get them uniform. If you’re looking for a solution that gets paragraph 10(a) perfectly aligned with paragraph 9(a) without having to re-set tab settings for 1-9, I cannot help you. If you’re putting a tab after a paragraph number that you’re entering manually, and that first left tab setting falls too close to “9(a)”, then when you get to “10(a)”, the next tab setting is naturally going to be further to the right than the first post-number tab setting for number “9(a)”.

Home Tab and click on the Dialog Launcher in the Paragraph section of the ribbon and check the formatting of the paragraph - Particularly the Special Indentation. (2) What are your tab settings (defaults and manuals)? Are they the same throughout your document, or do they differ within or between these numbered paragraphs? File>Options>Proofing>AutoCorrect Options>AutoFormat As You Type>Set left- and first-indent with tabs and backspaces.

(1) Are you typing the paragraph numbers in manually, or using automatic paragraph numbering? Those will be two totally different scenarios that require two totally different answers. After all, I can’t see your or Wayne’s documents, so I’m trying to answer your questions (on my own time, at that) without the benefit of being able to examine your document:

First line indent in word 2013