Fix Large Spaces in Word After Accepting Track Changes
Question details
Large white spaces or gaps appear inside words or paragraphs after accepting tracked changes and moving to the next edit.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reviewing a document and accepting tracked changes.
- Observed behavior
- Unexpected large gaps or white spaces are generated within the text layout immediately after a tracked change is accepted.
Before troubleshooting, toggle the visibility of hidden formatting marks to see exactly what characters (such as double spaces or tabs) are causing the unwanted gaps in your document.
Inspect and Remove Hidden Formatting Marks
Use this method to identify if the spaces are caused by leftover formatting marks, tabs, or double spaces.
When you accept deletions in Word, the spaces on either side of the deleted text are often left behind, resulting in double spaces. Additionally, manual line breaks or tab characters can push text apart.
Go to the Home tab and click the 'Show/Hide ¶' icon in the Paragraph group, or press Ctrl+* on your keyboard.
Examine the large spaces. Look for multiple small dots (which represent spaces) or arrows (which represent tabs).
Delete the unnecessary characters manually. To fix document-wide double spaces, press Ctrl+H to open the Find and Replace dialog, type two spaces in 'Find what' and one space in 'Replace with', then click 'Replace All'.
Transfer Content to a Clean Document
This solution clears hidden document-level formatting corruption that may be triggering the track changes glitch.
Toggle Track Changes Off and On
Resetting the Track Changes feature can sometimes resolve temporary background glitches in the Word application.
Use WPS Writer for Reliable Document Reviews
If Microsoft Word continues to struggle with formatting bugs during document reviews, try WPS Office. It is a free, lightweight alternative that handles Word documents and track changes seamlessly, without unexpected spacing glitches.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Install WPS Office for free from the official website.
- 2. Open Your Document: Open your existing .docx file directly in WPS Writer without losing any formatting or revision history.
- 3. Review Changes: Go to the Review tab to seamlessly continue accepting, rejecting, and adding tracked changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do large gaps appear in Word after I accept a deletion?
This usually happens because Word retains the spaces that were originally placed on either side of the deleted text, resulting in double spaces. It can also occur if the paragraph alignment is set to 'Justify', which forces the remaining words to stretch across the page.
How do I quickly remove double spaces created by track changes?
You can quickly remove them using the Find and Replace tool. Press Ctrl+H, type two blank spaces in the 'Find what' box, type a single blank space in the 'Replace with' box, and click 'Replace All'.
Does turning off Track Changes remove my previous edits?
No. Turning off Track Changes only stops Word from recording new edits. Any changes that were already recorded will remain in the document as tracked revisions until you manually accept or reject them.
What should I do if the document is heavily corrupted and spaces keep appearing?
If copying to a new document doesn't work, try saving your document as a Rich Text Format (.rtf) file. Close the file, reopen the .rtf in Word, and then save it back as a .docx file. This process often strips out underlying corrupted formatting code.
