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:.

Windows Mac

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

2. Press Ctrl+Shift+Hyphen .

1. On the Layout tab, click the arrow next to Hyphenation .

2. Select Automatic.

1. On the Layout tab, click the arrow next to Hyphenation .

2. Select Manual.

   Word identifies each hyphenation possibility in turn.

3. In the Manual Hyphenation dialog box, click the hyphenation location that you want, and then click Yes.

You can limit the number of consecutive hyphens.

1. On the Layout tab, click the arrow next to Hyphenation .

2. Select Hyphenation Options.

3. In the Limit consecutive hyphens box, type the maximum number, and then click OK.

1. Select the text.

2. On the Home tab, expand the Paragraph group.

3. In the Paragraph dialog box, select the Line and Page Breaks tab.

4. Under Formatting exceptions, select the Don't hyphenate check box.

You can control the number of hyphens in your document by adjusting the margin width.

1. On the Layout tab, click Margins .

2. Choose one of the preset margin widths, or choose Custom Margins and then enter Top, Bottom, Left, and Right margin widths.

3. Click OK.

See also

Change the line spacing in Word

Set page margins in Word

Keyboard shortcuts in Word

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 .

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.

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.

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