How to Remove Strange Table Symbols from a Word Document
Question details
The user wants to remove strange symbols, specifically end-of-cell and end-of-row markers, that are appearing throughout a Word document.
- Product
- Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Editing or viewing a document containing hidden tables or invisible gridlines.
- Observed behavior
- Strange non-printing table symbols are visible across the document, even when table borders are hidden or gridlines are disabled.
Confirm whether the symbols you are seeing are actually formatting marks, as these non-printing characters will not appear on a printed page or an exported PDF.
Convert the Table Structure to Text
Permanently remove the table markers by converting the table into plain text while keeping the content intact.
If you no longer need the layout benefits of a table and just want to keep the text, converting the table to text is the best way to permanently eliminate end-of-cell and end-of-row markers.
Click anywhere inside the text where the symbols appear. A table selection icon (a small crosshair) should appear at the top-left corner; click it to select the entire table.
Navigate to the 'Table Layout' or 'Layout' tab that appears on the top ribbon menu.
Click on the 'Convert to Text' button. Choose how you want to separate the text (e.g., with tabs or paragraph marks) and click 'OK'.
Hide Non-Printing Formatting Marks
Hide the symbols without removing the table structure if you still need the invisible table for alignment.
Delete the Table Completely
Remove the table and all of its contents if the data inside the invisible table is no longer needed.
Easily Manage Table Formatting with WPS Office
WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface to seamlessly manage, convert, or hide table markers and formatting symbols. It handles complex document layouts with ease and is fully compatible with Microsoft Word documents.
- 1. Open your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing the strange table symbols.
- 2. Access Table Tools: Click inside the area with the symbols to reveal the 'Table Tools' tab on the top ribbon.
- 3. Convert or Hide: Select 'Convert to Text' to completely remove the invisible table structure, or go to the 'Home' tab and click the 'Show/Hide Editing Marks' icon to simply hide the symbols.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will these strange table symbols print on my physical document?
No, end-of-cell and end-of-row markers are non-printing formatting marks. They only appear on the screen to help you see the boundaries of table cells during the editing process.
Why are these symbols showing up if I never created a table?
You may have pasted text copied from a website or another document. Web pages often use invisible tables to align text and images, and that hidden structure is carried over when you paste the content into your document.
How do I hide the dotted gridlines in my table?
Click anywhere inside the table, navigate to the 'Table Layout' or 'Table Tools' tab, and click the 'View Gridlines' button to toggle the dotted boundaries on or off.
