Formatting Issues

How to Fix Urdu Text Formatting and Punctuation in Word

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 15, 2026 879 views

Question details

The user needs to fix formatting, alignment, and punctuation corruption that occurs when pasting Urdu text translated via Google Translate into a Word document.

How to Fix Urdu Text Formatting and Punctuation in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Pasting translated Urdu text from a web browser into a Word document containing other formatting.
Observed behavior: The right-to-left layout, paragraph alignment, fonts, and punctuation become disrupted and corrupted upon pasting.

Before you start

Ensure you have an Urdu-compatible font installed on your system (such as Jameel Noori Nastaleeq) and that your Word interface has the Right-to-Left language feature enabled.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Word's Built-in Translation Feature

Using the native translation tool prevents bringing corrupted HTML formatting and mixed left-to-right metadata from external web browsers.

Web browsers often copy hidden formatting tags that disrupt Word's paragraph structure. Translating directly within Word ensures the text retains proper document formatting.

Select original text

Highlight the English text you wish to translate inside your Word document.

Open the Translate tool

Navigate to the Review tab on the ribbon and click on the Translate button.

Choose Translate Selection

Click on Translate Selection, set the target language to Urdu, and click Insert to seamlessly replace or append the text.

Solution 2

Adjust Right-to-Left Text Direction and Language

Manually fixing the pasted text by configuring the correct paragraph direction and proofing language.

Solution 3

Clean Formatting via a Temporary Document

Isolating the pasted text in a new document helps remove conflicting formatting before adding it to your final file.

Easily Manage Right-to-Left Languages with WPS Writer

WPS Office provides seamless support for Right-to-Left (RTL) text layouts and mixed-language documents, making it incredibly easy to manage English and Urdu text without formatting errors.

1. Paste your text: Open WPS Writer and paste your translated Urdu text into the document.
2. Adjust direction: Click the Right-to-Left Text Direction icon in the Home tab to instantly fix alignment and punctuation.
3. Save effortlessly: Save your perfectly formatted document in standard .docx format to share with Microsoft Word users.

Native support for Right-to-Left languages like Urdu and ArabicBuilt-in robust translation tools to prevent web pasting issuesPerfect compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsLightweight, free to use, and features a familiar interface

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do punctuation marks appear at the beginning of my Urdu sentences instead of the end?

This happens when the paragraph is still formatted with Left-to-Right (LTR) text direction. Selecting the text and clicking the Right-to-Left (RTL) paragraph button in the Home tab will immediately move the punctuation to the correct side.

Can I use Google Translate directly without breaking Word's formatting?

Copying directly from a web page often brings over invisible HTML tags that conflict with Word's formatting. To prevent this, right-click in Word and select 'Keep Text Only' when pasting, then manually apply your right-to-left layout.

Why do Urdu words look disconnected or written in individual letters in Word?

This usually indicates that the selected font does not support complex Arabic/Urdu scripts, or that Windows language packs are missing. Ensure you apply an Urdu-supported font (like Arial or Jameel Noori Nastaleeq) to the text.

Document & File Issues