How to Fix a Yen Symbol Appearing Instead of a Backslash in Word
Question details
The user needs to stop the Yen symbol from appearing when typing a backslash in a specific Word document.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Editing a specific Word document where the system and document language are set to English.
- Observed behavior
- Pressing the backslash key outputs a Yen symbol, and this issue persists across multiple Windows computers for this specific file.
Ensure your Windows keyboard layout is set to English (US or UK) and check if the issue happens in a brand-new, blank document before altering system settings.
Copy Content to a New Document Without Formatting
Since the issue is document-specific, transferring the text without the problematic font or language encoding often resolves the symbol substitution.
Sometimes a specific document retains hidden legacy font mappings or corrupted language metadata. Pasting the text without formatting strips away these hidden rules, allowing the backslash to render correctly.
Open the affected document, press Ctrl + A to select all the text, and press Ctrl + C to copy it.
Go to File > New and open a blank Word document.
Right-click on the blank page and select 'Keep Text Only' under the Paste Options, then reapply any necessary heading formats using standard English fonts.
Change the Document Font and Language Settings
Japanese fonts (like MS Mincho or Meiryo) historically map the backslash character to the Yen symbol. Changing the font fixes this display issue.
Temporarily Remove Japanese Proofing Tools
If your Windows system has Japanese language packs installed, Word might automatically switch layouts or auto-correct characters.
Use WPS Office to Avoid Complex Font Mapping Issues
If Microsoft Word's proofing tools and legacy font mappings are causing formatting frustrations, WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative. It offers a familiar interface without the complicated character encoding issues often found in older Word documents.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installer for Windows.
- 2. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your problematic .docx file directly.
- 3. Edit flawlessly: Continue typing and editing with perfect format preservation and correct symbol inputs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a Yen symbol appear when I type a backslash?
This is a legacy character encoding issue. In many Japanese fonts (like MS Gothic or MS Mincho) and on Windows operating systems localized for Japan, the backslash character code (5C) is historically mapped to display as the Yen symbol (¥).
Will this Yen symbol show up when I print the document?
Yes. If the document is displaying the Yen symbol due to internal font mapping or character encoding, it will also print as a Yen symbol. You must fix the formatting or change the font to a standard Western font before printing.
Does this symbol issue happen in Word Online?
Typically, Word Online handles character encoding differently and may display the backslash correctly even if your local desktop Word app shows a Yen symbol. Testing your file in Word Online is a great way to verify if the bug is caused by local computer font mapping.
Can I fix this by simply changing my Windows keyboard layout?
If the issue is caused by your Windows keyboard layout accidentally switching to a Japanese IME, pressing Alt + Shift or Windows Key + Space to switch back to the English layout will fix it. However, if the text itself is formatted with a Japanese font in the document, changing the keyboard layout won't work until you change the font.
