Stop Words from Breaking across Lines or Pages within Microsoft Word

This applies to Microsoft (r) Word (r) 2010 2013, 2013 2019, 2019 and also 365 (Windows)

There are a variety of ways to prevent words from breaking into lines within Microsoft Word. If Word is inserting hyphens into the words you do not wish to break into lines, it is possible to switch off the automatic hyphenation of the paragraph. It is also possible to keep characters or words (numbers or words) joined within Microsoft Word using nonbreaking spaces or hyphens that don’t break.

To see nonbreaking spaces as well as nonbreaking hyphens, paragraph marks:

1. Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
2. Click Show/Hide under the Paragraphs group.

You can switch off the symbols by pressing that same icon.

Disabling automatic hyphenation

Within Microsoft Word, automatic hyphenation is enabled in default for ordinary paragraphs (using the Normal style) therefore Word can add hyphens and break lines of words.

To prevent words from splitting into lines within paragraphs or paragraphs, by deactivating the automatic hyphenation system:

1. Choose the paragraph.
2. Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
3. The dialog box launcher is located at the bottom right-hand edge of the group Paragraph. A Paragraph dialogue box opens.
4. Click Line and Page Breaks.
5. Choose or uncheck Don’t Hyphenate.
6. Click OK.

You can also deactivate automatic hyphenation in several paragraphs by changing the style of the paragraphs (for instance you can edit the Normal styles).

Disable automatic hyphenation on any new documents

If you would like to not allow automatic hyphenation in the first time, you are able to alter to the settings that are default.

Turn off the automatic hyphenation in new documents based on Normal template defaulted by default:

1. Create a blank document (this must be based on The Normal templates)..
2. Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
3. Click the launcher for dialog boxes at the bottom right-hand edge of the group Paragraph. This dialog box for Paragraph opens.
4. Click Line and Page Breaks.
5. Choose or uncheck Don’t Hyphenate.
6. Click Set As Default. A dialog box appears.
7. Select all documents that are based on the Normal.dotm template. Be aware that you are able to select the current document alone.
8. Click OK two times.

Stop words from crossing lines by using nonbreaking spaces

If you wish for words or characters to remain within the same line it is possible to utilize nonbreaking spaces instead of normal spaces.

For instance, it is unlikely you’d wish to split the following between pages or lines:

To create a non-breaking space between two characters or words by using keyboard shortcuts:

1. Place the cursor in between two words or characters that you would like to keep (there must not be any space between these characters).
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Spacebar. Word inserts a non-breaking space.

To insert a non-breaking space between two letters or words by using in the Insert Symbol dialogue box

1. Place the cursor in between two words or characters that you would like to keep (there must there be no space between the characters).
2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
3. Select Insert Symbol and then select More Symbols from the menu dropdown. A dialog box appears.
4. Choose the special Characters tab.
5. Select the space that is nonbreaking and click Insert.
6. Click Close. Words insert a non-breaking space.

Its insert Symbol dialog box contains Two tabs (a tab for Symbols, and one tab that is for special Characters):

Stop words from crossing lines using nonbreaking hyphens and dashes

You may also make use of nonbreaking hyphens and dashes to join characters or words in sync.

For instance, it is unlikely that you’d like to see the following break between pages or lines:

Insert a non-breaking hyphen between two characters or words using a keyboard shortcut

1. Place the cursor in between two characters or words you would like to keep (there must not be any space between these characters).
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Underscore (_). Word inserts a non-breaking hyphen.

Insert a nonbreaking hyphen between two characters or words by using The Insert Symbol dialog box:

1. Place the cursor in between two characters or words you wish to keep (there must not be any space between these characters).
2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
3. Select Insert Symbol and then click More Symbols from the menu dropdown. A dialog box appears.
4. Click on the special Characters tab.
5. Choose Nonbreaking Hyphen and click to insert.
6. Click Close. Word inserts a non-breaking hyphen.

It’s normal to use non-breaking spaces and hyphens in order to keep characters or words together when using Microsoft Word and in documents in other programs.