To turn off hyphenation in Word 2013, click the Page Layout tab (called Layout in newer versions), click Hyphenation, and choose None. Word removes the automatic hyphens it added at the ends of lines. Choose Automatic on the same menu to turn hyphenation back on.
Quick Answer
Page Layout (or Layout) > Hyphenation > None to turn it off, or Automatic to turn it on.
Turn Off Automatic Hyphenation
- Select the text, or press Ctrl + A for the whole document.
- Go to Page Layout (Word 2013) or Layout (Word 2016 and later).
- In the Page Setup group, click Hyphenation.
- Choose None.
Turn Hyphenation On
Choose Hyphenation > Automatic. Word hyphenates long words at line ends as you type, which helps reduce gaps in justified text.
Hyphenation Options
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| None | No automatic hyphens |
| Automatic | Word hyphenates throughout the document |
| Manual | Word suggests each hyphen and you approve it |
| Hyphenation Options | Set the hyphenation zone, limit consecutive hyphens, or skip words in capitals |
Stop Hyphenation for One Paragraph
- Click in the paragraph.
- Open the Paragraph dialog (the small arrow in the Paragraph group’s corner).
- On the Line and Page Breaks tab, check Don’t hyphenate.
This is useful for headings, names, and web addresses you don’t want split.
Remove Hyphens That Won’t Go Away
- Typed hyphens: Hyphens you typed with the hyphen key are regular text. Delete them, or use Find and Replace.
- Optional hyphens: Turn on Show/Hide ¶ (Ctrl + Shift + 8) to see them as ¬. Search for ^- in Find and Replace and replace with nothing.
- Nonbreaking hyphens: Search for ^~ and replace with a regular hyphen or nothing.
Troubleshooting
- Hyphenation is grayed out: You’re in Read Mode or a protected document. Switch to Print Layout and enable editing.
- Turning off hyphenation leaves big gaps: That happens with justified text. Switch to Align Left, or see how to justify a paragraph in Word for spacing tips.
- Other extra spaces appear: See how to remove extra space in Word.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Word adding hyphens to my words?
Automatic hyphenation is turned on, often by a template. Set Hyphenation to None.
Does this work in Word for Mac?
Yes. On a Mac, go to Layout > Hyphenation > None, or Tools > Hyphenation in older versions.
Can I set None as the default?
Yes. Set it in a blank document based on the Normal template, or modify the Normal style’s paragraph settings to Don’t hyphenate.
Summary
- Select the text.
- Open Page Layout (or Layout) > Hyphenation.
- Choose None.
- Use Don’t hyphenate for individual paragraphs.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.