Document Editing Problems

Fix Word Phonetic Guide Showing Field Codes or HTML Text

Amos Gikunda Oct 9, 2026 868 views

Question details

The Phonetic Guide (Ruby text) in Microsoft Word displays raw EQ field codes or HTML-like text rather than the expected phonetic annotations above the characters.

How to Fix Word Phonetic Guide Showing Field Codes Instead of Text

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Reading or editing documents containing East Asian phonetic guides (Ruby text).
Observed behavior: Phonetic annotations appear broken, exposing internal field codes such as { EQ \* jc \* ... } instead of rendering the phonetic characters correctly above the base text.

Before you start

Ensure your document is fully loaded and that you haven't accidentally disabled East Asian language support in your system or Office preferences.

Solution 1Recommended

Toggle Field Codes Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Quickly switch back to the normal view if Word is set to display underlying field codes instead of results.

Microsoft Word uses Equation (EQ) fields behind the scenes to render phonetic guides. When the field code view is accidentally toggled on, these raw codes become visible.

Select the text

Highlight the text displaying the field code, or press Ctrl+A to select the entire document.

Toggle field codes

Press Alt+F9 (or Fn+Alt+F9 on some laptops) to toggle the view between raw field codes and formatted field results.

Update the fields

Press F9 (or Fn+F9) to refresh the fields and force Word to display the proper phonetic guide.

Toggle Field Codes Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Quick Fix: Alt+F9 is a global toggle for all field codes in Word, which usually resolves this display issue instantly.

Solution 2

Enable East Asian Language Features

Ensure Word is configured with the correct language packs to render Phonetic Guide text.

Solution 3

Modify Advanced Display Settings

Prevent Word from permanently displaying field codes by adjusting the advanced document settings.

Seamless Document Editing

Use WPS Writer to Display and Edit Phonetic Guides Properly

WPS Office is fully compatible with Microsoft Word formats and accurately renders East Asian text, including phonetic guides (Ruby text), without unexpectedly exposing messy field codes.

1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office on your computer or mobile device.
2. Open the document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing the problematic phonetic guides.
3. Edit phonetic guides: Highlight the text and use the 'Phonetic Guide' tool under the 'Home' tab to seamlessly modify or add ruby text.

Flawlessly displays and edits East Asian phonetic guides (Ruby text) without EQ code errors.Highly compatible with Microsoft Word document formats (.docx, .doc).Free to use with a lightweight, user-friendly interface.Features intuitive tools for adding and adjusting phonetic annotations natively.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word show { EQ \* jc \* ... } instead of normal text?

This happens because Word uses an 'Equation (EQ)' field to generate the Phonetic Guide overlay. If the application is set to show field codes instead of their calculated values, Word displays the raw instructional code rather than the formatted text.

Will printing the document show the field codes or the phonetic guide?

It depends on your print settings. If 'Print field codes instead of their values' is checked in File > Options > Display, the raw codes will print. You must turn this off to print the actual phonetic text.

Why is the Phonetic Guide button grayed out in Word?

The button is usually disabled if the necessary East Asian language pack is not installed or enabled in your Office language settings, or if the specific text you have selected does not support phonetic guides.

Document & File Issues