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How to Remove Arrows and Formatting Marks Beside Word Bullets
Question details
The user needs to hide the small arrows and other formatting marks that appear next to bullet points in a Word document.
- Product
- Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Editing a document with bulleted lists where nonprinting formatting marks and tab indicators are visibly cluttering the page.
- Observed behavior
- Small arrows (representing tab spaces) and other nonprinting formatting marks are visible beside bullet points. Changing the bullet style does not remove these marks.
Keep in mind that these small arrows are visual indicators of tab spaces and are classified as nonprinting characters; they will not appear when the document is printed or exported to PDF.
Use the Show/Hide Button on the Ribbon
This is the most direct method to toggle formatting marks on or off using the Word interface.
The small arrows next to your bullets are actually tab characters. Word has a built-in toggle to hide all these layout marks so you can view your document exactly as it will print.
Open your Word document and look at the top ribbon menu. Click on the 'Home' tab.
Locate the 'Paragraph' group on the ribbon. Click the Show/Hide ¶ (pilcrow) icon. This will instantly hide all nonprinting characters, removing the visible arrows without changing your content.
Use a Keyboard Shortcut
A quick and efficient way to hide or show formatting marks without navigating through the ribbon menu.
Easily Manage Formatting Marks in WPS Writer
WPS Writer provides an intuitive and clean interface to control your document layout, allowing you to easily toggle formatting marks and tab arrows with a single click while maintaining full compatibility.
- 1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing the visible bullet arrows.
- 2. Navigate to the Home tab: Look at the top ribbon menu and click on the 'Home' tab.
- 3. Toggle Editing Marks: Locate and click the 'Show/Hide Editing Marks' icon in the Paragraph section to immediately hide the tab arrows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will these arrows print if I leave them visible on the screen?
No, the small arrows represent tab spaces and are classified as nonprinting characters. They are only visible on your screen while editing to help you see the layout structure, and they will not appear on the printed page.
Why do arrows appear instead of regular spaces next to bullets?
The arrows indicate that a 'Tab' key spacing is used to create space between the bullet symbol and the text. This is standard formatting for lists to ensure text aligns perfectly, whereas regular spaces are represented by small dots.
Can I hide the tab arrows but keep paragraph marks visible?
Yes. In Word, go to File > Options > Display. Under the 'Always show these formatting marks on the screen' section, you can uncheck 'Tab characters' while keeping 'Paragraph marks' checked to customize what remains visible.
