How to Fix Black Squares in Margins in Microsoft Word
Question details
The user needs to understand why black paragraph-formatting indicators are displaying in both the left and right margins of their document and how to remove them.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Editing or formatting a document where non-printing formatting marks are visible.
- Observed behavior
- Black formatting squares or paragraph indicators appear simultaneously in both the left and right margins, instead of aligning to just one side.
Before changing your language preferences, save your current document and ensure you know which editing languages you actually need for your daily work.
Remove Unused Complex-Script Languages
This solution removes conflicting right-to-left (RTL) languages that cause Word to display paragraph marks in both margins to accommodate dual text directions.
The appearance of black squares in both margins is typically caused by having a complex-script or right-to-left language (such as Arabic or Hebrew) installed alongside your primary left-to-right language. Removing the unused language resolves the visual conflict.
Launch Microsoft Word, click on "File" in the top left corner, select "Options" at the bottom, and then click on "Language" in the left pane.
Under the "Office authoring languages and proofing" section, locate any unused complex-script languages (like Arabic or Hebrew). Select the language and click the "Remove" button.
If the issue persists, go to your Windows "Settings" > "Time & Language" > "Language". Check your "Preferred languages" list and remove any unnecessary right-to-left languages.
Close all open instances of Microsoft Word. Reopen your application and document to confirm that the formatting indicators now only appear in the appropriate margin.
Try WPS Office for a Cleaner Word Processing Experience
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- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office suite for your operating system.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Microsoft Word document. Your layout and text formatting will remain perfectly intact.
- 3. Edit Without Distractions: Enjoy a clean workspace where formatting marks and paragraph indicators behave exactly as expected, regardless of the languages installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do these black squares appear in the first place?
The black squares are paragraph formatting indicators. When a right-to-left language (like Arabic) is active alongside a left-to-right language (like English), Word displays these indicators in both margins to accommodate potential text running in either direction.
Can I hide the black margin squares without changing my language settings?
Yes. You can hide all non-printing characters, including the margin squares, by clicking the paragraph symbol (¶) in the Home tab ribbon, or by pressing the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + * (Ctrl + Shift + 8).
Will removing a language from Office delete my computer's fonts?
No, removing an editing language from your Microsoft Office preferences only removes the proofing tools (like spell check) and specific layout adaptations for that language within Office. Your system fonts remain completely intact.
What if I actually need to type in Arabic or Hebrew occasionally?
If you need to keep the complex-script language installed for occasional use, you will have to tolerate the dual margin indicators when your formatting marks are turned on. Alternatively, simply keep formatting marks hidden while working to maintain a clean screen.
