Control hyphenation

You can have Word hyphenate your text automatically as you type your text, or later, in one pass. You can also use manual hyphenation to have Word make hyphenation suggestions. Automatic hyphenation is quicker and easier, although manual hyphenation provides more control.

Do any of the following:

Insert a nonbreaking hyphen

1. Click where you want to insert a nonbreaking hyphen.

2. Press COMMAND + SHIFT + HYPHEN .

   Tips: 

   • To insert an en dash (–), press OPTION + HYPHEN .

   • To insert an em dash (—) instead of double-hyphens, press SHIFT + OPTION + HYPHEN .

Hyphenate text automatically

1. On the Tools menu, click Hyphenation.

2. Select the Automatically hyphenate document check box.

3. In the Hyphenation zone box, enter the amount of space to leave between the end of the last word in a line and the right margin.

4. In the Limit consecutive hyphens to box, enter the number of consecutive lines that can be hyphenated.

   Tips: 

   • To reduce the number of hyphens, make the hyphenation zone wider.

   • To reduce the raggedness of the right margin, make the hyphenation zone narrower.

Hyphenate part of a document manually

1. Select the text that you want to hyphenate.

2. On the Tools menu, click Hyphenation.

3. Click Manual.

   Word identifies each hyphenation possibility in turn.

4. In the Hyphenate at box, click the hyphenation location that you want.

Hyphenate a whole document manually

1. Make sure that no text is selected.

2. On the Tools menu, click Hyphenation.

3. Click Manual.

   Word identifies each hyphenation possibility in turn.

4. In the Hyphenate at box, click the hyphenation location that you want.

See also

Change the line spacing in Word

Keyboard shortcuts in Word for Mac