Word splitting words at the end of the line

Stop Words from Breaking Across Lines or Pages in Microsoft Word

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated March 14, 2021

Applies to: Microsoft^® Word^® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 365 (Windows)

There are many ways to stop words from splitting across lines in Microsoft Word. If Word is inserting hyphens in a word you don’t want to break across lines, you can turn off automatic hyphenation for the paragraph. You can also keep words or characters (numbers or letters) together in Microsoft Word using nonbreaking spaces or nonbreaking hyphens.

To view nonbreaking spaces, nonbreaking hyphens and paragraph marks:

1. Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
2. Click the Show/Hide ¶ in the Paragraph group.

You can turn off the symbols by clicking on the same button.

Recommended article: 14 Timesaving Microsoft Word Selection Shortcuts to Quickly Select Text

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Turning off automatic hyphenation

In Microsoft Word, automatic hyphenation is turned on by default for normal paragraphs (using the Normal style) so Word may insert hyphens and break words across lines.

To stop words from splitting across lines in a paragraph or paragraphs by turning off automatic hyphenation:

1. Select the paragraph or paragraphs.
2. Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
3. Click the dialog box launcher on the bottom right corner of the Paragraph group. The Paragraph dialog box appears.
4. Click Line and Page Breaks.
5. Select or check Don’t Hyphenate.
6. Click OK.

Below is the Paragraph dialog box with the option to turn off hyphenation:

You can also turn off automatic hyphenation for multiple paragraphs by editing the style for those paragraphs (for example, the Normal style).

Turning off automatic hyphenation for all new documents

If you prefer to turn off automatic hyphenation for new documents, you can change the default settings.

To turn off automatic hyphenation for new documents based on the default Normal template:

1. Create a new blank document (this should be based on the Normal template)..
2. Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
3. Click the dialog box launcher on the bottom right corner of the Paragraph group. The Paragraph dialog box appears.
4. Click Line and Page Breaks.
5. Select or check Don’t Hyphenate.
6. Click Set As Default. A dialog box appears.
7. Select All documents based on the Normal.dotm template. Note that you can select the current document only.
8. Click OK twice.

Stop words from breaking across lines using nonbreaking spaces

If you want words or characters to stay together on the same line, you can use nonbreaking spaces instead of standard spaces.

For example, it is unlikely that you would want the following to break across lines or pages:

416 736 2288

3 M

To insert a nonbreaking space between two words or characters using a keyboard shortcut:

1. Position the cursor between the two words or characters you want to keep together (there should be no space between these characters).
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Spacebar. Word inserts a nonbreaking space.

To insert a nonbreaking space between two words or letters using the Insert Symbol dialog box:

1. Position the cursor between the two words or characters you want to keep together (there should be no space between these characters).
2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
3. Click Insert Symbol and then More Symbols in the drop-down menu. A dialog box appears.
4. Select the Special Characters tab.
5. Select Nonbreaking space and click Insert.
6. Click Close. Word inserts a nonbreaking space.

The Insert Symbol dialog box has two tabs (a tab for Symbols and a tab for Special Characters):

Stop words from breaking across lines using nonbreaking hyphens or dashes

You can also use nonbreaking hyphens or dashes to keep words or characters together.

For example, it is unlikely that you would want the following to break across lines or pages:

co-ordinator

416-736-9943

To insert a nonbreaking hyphen between two words or characters using a keyboard shortcut:

1. Position the cursor between the two words or characters you want to keep together (there should be no space between these characters).
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Underscore (_). Word inserts a nonbreaking hyphen.

To insert a nonbreaking hyphen between two words or characters using the Insert Symbol dialog box:

1. Position the cursor between the two words or characters you want to keep together (there should be no space between these characters).
2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
3. Click Insert Symbol and then More Symbols in the drop-down menu. A dialog box appears.
4. Select the Special Characters tab.
5. Select Nonbreaking hyphen and click Insert.
6. Click Close. Word inserts a nonbreaking hyphen.

It’s common to use nonbreaking spaces and hyphens to keep words or characters together in Microsoft Word and in documents in other programs.

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Firstly, it is preferable not to split a word at the end of a line.

From the APA Style Guide, Section 1.A.9

Do not hyphenate (split) words at the end of a line.

If possible, add another word to the line, or take one away, so you don’t need to split in the first place.

In fact. NEVER EVER split words. However, I will give what I consider to be ok guidelines:

There are really no proper rules as to how it should be done, when it is, so basically, use common sense.
If it must be done, try to keep the components of meaning together — this is easy with obviously compound words, such as keyboard. E.g.

Key-
board.
Super-
market.

It is also easy with words with prefixes such as «quasi» or «psuedo» e.g.

Pseudo-
science.

But mostly, splitting the words just makes them hard to read — and can lead to nightmares when the content of text is changed, because words that were once at the end of a line will no longer be at the end of a line, and everything will have to be re-done.

Unfortunately, most word processors are not very good at automatically splitting words, so it is best to keep that feature off. It is also possible, however, to put markers in words where the word processor will be allowed to split the word. In Microsoft Word, this is done by using Ctrl+-. This hyphen is invisible, unless the word gets split at the end of a line.

But as a rule of thumb, see if the word is still easy to understand if you say it out loud with a pause where you are going to break the word. Usually, try and split it in the middle of the word.

Civili-
sation.

But, as you can see, it just makes it harder to read. Just don’t do it.

Splitting Words at the End of the Line

The rules for splitting words at the end of the line in the English language are quite complicated, and in many cases rather subjective. To be on the safe side -simply avoid doing it. We recommend you to turn off the automatic hyphenation off in your word processor, which is likely to hyphenate in American English where the rules are far more flexible than in British English. If breaking a word is inevitable make sure you put the hyphen after a complete syllable: neg-li-gent. Hyphenating in the middle of a syllable is regarded as a mistake.

For line splits in words ending in -ing, if the final root consonant is doubled before -ing , put the hyphen between the consonants; in other cases hyphenate at the suffix itself:

e.g Dig-ging
      Put-ting
      Sing -ing
      Vot-ing.

There are a few «never» rules you should remember when breaking the words at the end of the line:

• Never break up a one-syllable word.
• Never hyphenate a word that already has a hyphen.
• Never split a proper noun (any noun starting with a capital letter).
• Never leave one or two letters on either line. However, you may use hyphen before the inflexion for the past participle (e.g play-ed) with regular verbs, at the same time it is less common for irregular verbs (e.g brok -en).
• Never put the first or last letter of a word at the end or beginning of a line.
• Never start the new line with two-letter suffixes.

To get help from a professional essay writing service, fill out an order form, and we will get back to you

Asked by: Kayden Gerlach IV

Score: 5/5
(4 votes)

In Microsoft Word, automatic hyphenation is turned on by default for normal paragraphs (using the Normal style) so Word may insert hyphens and break words across lines. To stop words from splitting across lines in a paragraph or paragraphs by turning off automatic hyphenation: … Select or check Don’t Hyphenate. Click OK.

How do I stop words splitting in Word?

To stop words from splitting across lines in a paragraph or paragraphs by turning off automatic hyphenation:

Why are my words wrapping in Word?

This happens if you accidentally change the paragraph indentation for the document. Ensure that Indentation, both before and after text, are set to zero and that no special formatting has been set.

What is AutoFormat as you type word?

The AutoFormat As You Type tab provides options for formatting that occurs automatically based on what you type. Using this feature can minimize the need to apply changes from the Ribbon.

How do you keep words on the same line?

Non-Breaking Paragraphs and Lines

43 related questions found

• #1

Hello! Can anyone provide me with a rule /standard assumption on how to split English words by the end of the line? Imagine you have to teach a schoolboy who is writing his essay BY HAND. I know that nowadays computers help to keep words complete in the same space, but I need a rule to apply at hand writing, in informal essays, letters, notes, etc. thanks a lot!

Example: I went to the super-
market the other day…
I went to the supermark-
et the other day…..

is there a version that looks more «correct» that other(s)?

• #2

I think the general rule is that compound words like ‘supermarket’ should only be split at the junction of the two parts, but computers seem to be able to be set to make the split anywhere. I would use the syllable as the very least part which should be on either side of a hyphen ….
so super-market would be ideal
and supermar-ket would be only just acceptable
and su-permarket would be really objectionable

There are books on ‘style’ which can tell you about this, and works like Usage and Abusage by Eric Partridge have short entries on it. But the only way to really judge is to take each case on it’s merits.

• #3

I know somewhere there exists a rule on this (which I’ve long since forgotten), but meanwhile I only feel safe when splitting compound words or words with prefixes, but never just a «part» of a word.

1. Next year I plan to vacation in Costa —
Rica.

2. Of course this will involve a lot of pre-
planning.

3. I’m presently setting aside money to pay for my tic-
ket.

• #4

There is a very good BE usage book, «Eats Shoots and Leaves» (by Lynne Truss?) that explains many aspects of English grammer.

I would not even split a sylable
mid-word, just because it looks aw-
ful and make the sentence ha-
rd to read!

Rod

• #5

There’s an interesting article here. Or Google ‘hyphenation’

• #6

Dim memories from 6th or 7th grade (age 11-12):

Never split a one syllable word.
Split most other words between two consonants, or
between a vowel and a single consonant.
Exceptions to the second statement are vowels followed by

t, d, p, b, k, g.

Further, the combination qu is never split.

Split words with a hyphen where the base word is joined to a prefix such as

anti co infra macro semi
de micro sub intra re
hyper non supra
hypo pre trans
pseudo un ​

• #7

Dim memories from 6th or 7th grade (age 11-12):

Never split a one syllable word.
Split most other words between two consonants, or
between a vowel and a single consonant.
Exceptions to the second statement are vowels followed by

t, d, p, b, k, g.

Further, the combination qu is never split.

Split words with a hyphen where the base word is joined to a prefix such as

​

anti co infra macro semi
de micro sub intra re
hyper non supra
hypo pre trans pseudo un ​

I’m not sure which of the rules are being applied here, but I just saw the following «end of line splitting» in an article from THE NEW YORKER:

The terrible arbitrariness of the di-
saster has troubled clergymen of many
persuasions. The Archbishop of Canter-
bury is among those newly struggling
….

A lot of the splitting no doubt has to do with typsetting, and there happens to be numerous ones on this particular page alone. Another interesting one is Af-
rica

• #8

I’m not sure which of the rules are being applied here, but I just saw the following «end of line splitting» in an article from THE NEW YORKER:

The terrible arbitrariness of the di-
saster has troubled clergymen of many
persuasions. The Archbishop of Canter-
bury is among those newly struggling
….

A lot of the splitting no doubt has to do with typsetting, and there happens to be numerous ones on this particular page alone. Another interesting one is Af-
rica

• #9

A lot of the splitting no doubt has to do with typsetting, and there happens to be numerous ones on this particular page alone.

Yes, the rules about end-of-line splitting have relaxed a lot since computers took over the job. Another sign of moral decay, for sure.

Another interesting one is Af-

We were taught not to fracture proper names. I don’t think computers are told to make that distinction, but if they can control a rocket to Mars, they should know better than to split capitalized words. Or to automatically insert quote marks after the hyphen/return that Ms Missy put right in the middle of «Africa.»

I’m new here. Hi to all, but please don’t call me «junior.»

Regards,

Didymus

• #10

so super-market would be ideal
and supermar-ket would be only just acceptable
and su-permarket would be really objectionable

I think those rules are a bit dated. I believe most copy editors would not have a problem with the last.

But the only way to really judge is to take each case on it’s merits.

Surely you mean «its merits.»

Aside from readability and courtesy, I can’t imagine what merits might be involved in a question of this sort. Cuchuflete’s «dim memories» cover the former very nicely, and the rule about proper names takes care of the latter.

Regards,

Didymus

• #11

Welcome to the Forum Didymus! I promise not to call you «junior.» (But were you aware that the junior status on the forum depends on the number of posts … whether they’re questions, responses, or new threads. I think it takes about 50 before you officially go from junior member to just plain old member, and then about 100 before you go to senior status. I was confused about the way it worked when I first joined the forum.

• #12

Most good dictionaries will show you where the splits in words occur; in other words, they show you the individual syllables. Even something like www.m-w.com (the Merriam-Webster online dictionary) gives you a clear picture of the breaks:

Main Entry: in·sub·stan·tial

(I may be stating the obvious, but I thought I’d mention it.)

• #13

Surely you mean «its merits.»

Of course I do.
I suffer from greengrocer’s apostrophe, especially when I type too quickly.

Thanks, and welcom’e to the forum.

• #14

Hello! Can anyone provide me with a rule /standard assumption on how to split English words by the end of the line? Imagine you have to teach a schoolboy who is writing his essay BY HAND. I know that nowadays computers help to keep words complete in the same space, but I need a rule to apply at hand writing, in informal essays, letters, notes, etc. thanks a lot!

Example: I went to the super-
market the other day…
I went to the supermark-
et the other day…..

is there a version that looks more «correct» that other(s)?

miyax,

For the various rules to be understood, you have to know what phonemes are. Does the schoolboy know what phonemes are?

• #15

The first and most important rule/assumption about splitting words at the end of a line is DON’T. The schoolboy should develop the ability to estimate how much space the word will take so that if the word won’t fit completely at the end of a line he can write it at the beginning of the next line.

• #16

The first and most important rule/assumption about splitting words at the end of a line is DON’T. The schoolboy should develop the ability to estimate how much space the word will take so that if the word won’t fit completely at the end of a line he can write it at the beginning of the next line.

You might get away with «DON’T» if you’re talking to schoolboys, but it’s not useful for copy editors or others who must concern themselves with the appearance of text. Your admonition is a surefire recipe for cluttered, unattractive text. For that reason, many publications don’t allow line adjustments greater than a specified percentage. And virtually all publications do permit word splitting at natural breaks.

Nobody’s in love with word breaks, but there’s nothing intrinsically wrong with them. Schoolboys have better things to learn than out-dated rules that disappeared long ago beyond the cloistered halls.

Didymus

• #17

My DON’T is advice to the schoolboy who is writing his essay BY HAND. In that specific context, splitting words at the end of lines is not necessary. I don’t think the visual appeal of a page of well-written text is compromised by a jagged right margin.

Other posts offer advice on how to do line-splitting in general. I’m in no position to offer such advice because although I write a great deal with a pen on paper, I don’t split words at the end of lines.

• #18

The worst split I ever saw in a newspaper was
the-
rapist

• #19

My DON’T is advice to the schoolboy who is writing his essay BY HAND. In that specific context, splitting words at the end of lines is not necessary. I don’t think the visual appeal of a page of well-written text is compromised by a jagged right margin.

Other posts offer advice on how to do line-splitting in general. I’m in no position to offer such advice because although I write a great deal with a pen on paper, I don’t split words at the end of lines.

I would agree with that. I hadn’t noticed that this was to be implemented in handwriting.

• #20

My DON’T is advice to the schoolboy who is writing his essay BY HAND. In that specific context, splitting words at the end of lines is not necessary.

I agree — and I should have read the OP more carefully.

I don’t think the visual appeal of a page of well-written text is compromised by a jagged right margin.

I agree, so long as the line is fairly long and the right indents are not too deep. In fact, I think a jagged margin is more attractive than flush right and the uneven spacing it entails.

But while some jaggedness is fine, not splitting a long word like «compromised» can produce an ugly indentation. On the other hand, nothing is as ugly as highly compressed and stretched lines. That leaves us with… split words, the universal compromise.

Didymus