If you’re editing a professional document, layout design, or academic paper, you may have noticed words splitting at the end of lines. That’s due to automatic hyphenation. But don’t worry — this guide will show you exactly how to turn off hyphenation in Word, so your text flows seamlessly without awkward breaks.
Microsoft Word includes a hyphenation feature to improve text alignment, especially in justified paragraphs. However, in many cases, disabling it offers better readability and a cleaner look.
Why Turn Off Hyphenation in Word?
Turning off hyphenation is useful when you want:
- 📘 Clean paragraph formatting
- 📄 No split words in headlines or titles
- 📑 Better readability, especially for narrow columns
- 🖨️ Consistent print layouts
- ✨ Aesthetically pleasing documents
Many style guides for schools and businesses even recommend avoiding automatic hyphenation.
Step-by-Step: How to Turn Off Hyphenation in Word
Let’s walk through the simple process on both Windows and macOS.
✅ Method 1: Turn Off Hyphenation for the Entire Document
- Open your Word document
- Go to the Layout tab (or Page Layout in older versions)
- Click on Hyphenation in the Page Setup group
- Select None from the dropdown
🎉 Done! All automatic hyphenation will be removed from your document.
✅ Method 2: Turn Off Hyphenation for Selected Text Only
- Select the paragraph or section you want to modify
- Press Ctrl+D (Windows) or Command+D (Mac) to open the Font dialog
- Click the Advanced tab
- Uncheck Hyphenation under paragraph formatting
- Click OK
This is ideal when you want to maintain hyphenation in one section but not in another.
Optional: Disable Hyphenation for New Documents
Want to start every document with hyphenation turned off?
- Open a blank document
- Go to Layout > Hyphenation > None
- Save the document as a template (.dotx)
- Use this template as your default for future files
💡 This is a time-saver for those working on formal papers or print-ready documents.
Troubleshooting Hyphenation Issues
If hyphenation still appears:
- Ensure you haven’t applied manual hyphens with the
-key - Recheck language settings, as some templates have built-in hyphenation rules
- Confirm there are no section breaks with different formatting rules
- Use Clear All Formatting under the Home tab to reset styles if needed
🛠️ Fixing this ensures consistency across your entire document.
FAQs: How to Turn Off Hyphenation in Word
Why is Word hyphenating words automatically?
Word does this to justify text evenly. You can disable this under Layout > Hyphenation > None.
Can I disable hyphenation for just one section?
Yes, select the text and adjust paragraph formatting under Font > Advanced.
Does turning off hyphenation affect layout?
It might slightly increase white space between words in justified paragraphs.
How do I remove hyphenation from a table or header?
Follow the same steps while inside the table cell or header section.
Can I set Word to never use hyphenation by default?
Yes, by saving a new template with hyphenation turned off.
Is hyphenation disabled in Word Online?
Word Online currently does not support hyphenation controls. Use the desktop version for full access.
Conclusion: Hyphen-Free Formatting for a Clean Look
Now that you know how to turn off hyphenation in Word, your documents can stay clean, consistent, and easy to read. Whether you’re preparing a business report, an academic essay, or a newsletter, removing those word splits helps maintain a more polished layout.
A little formatting goes a long way — take control and keep your content clear!
Complete List of Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
If you need help for Windows, you can find a whole list of all keyboard shortcuts here.
https://keyboard-shortcuts.org/
Advertisment