How to Remove Tiny Tick Marks from Word for Mac Tables
Question details
The user needs to eliminate small marks or tick-like lines appearing at the bottom of table headings in Word for Mac.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Formatting table headers or preparing a document for printing and PDF export.
- Observed behavior
- Tiny tick marks or small lines appear along the bottom edge of table headings, remaining visible on the screen and in printed or exported outputs.
Before making formatting changes, use Print Preview or export a test page to PDF to verify whether the tick marks are actual border settings or just temporary screen rendering glitches.
Match Internal Border Colors with Cell Shading
Resolve the visibility of unwanted marks by setting the color of the internal borders to perfectly match your table's background shading.
In many cases, these tiny tick marks are the ends of internal vertical borders bleeding into the header's bottom border. When the internal border has a slightly different color or thickness than the cell shading, it becomes visible as a tick mark.
Highlight the specific table heading cells or the entire row where the tiny tick marks are appearing.
Navigate to the 'Home' tab, click the drop-down arrow next to the 'Borders' icon, and select 'Borders and Shading' from the menu.
In the Borders tab, locate the internal vertical border setting. Change its color to exactly match the shading color applied to your heading cells.
Click 'OK' to apply the changes, then export your document to PDF or use Print Preview to confirm the tick marks are completely gone.
Format Tables Flawlessly with WPS Office for Mac
WPS Office for Mac offers robust table formatting tools that help you easily manage cell borders, shading, and layouts without rendering glitches. It is fully compatible with Microsoft Word documents.
- 1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your .docx file containing the table.
- 2. Select the table: Highlight the table cells or headings you want to modify.
- 3. Adjust borders: Right-click, choose 'Borders and Shading', and customize or remove the internal lines to achieve a clean look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do these tick marks appear in my Word table?
They are typically caused by thin internal vertical borders that have a different color than the cell shading, or by screen rendering artifacts that occur when zooming in and out.
Will the tick marks show up when I print the document?
If they are mere screen rendering glitches, they usually won't print. However, if they are actual border formatting inconsistencies, they will likely appear in printed copies or exported PDFs.
How do I completely remove internal borders in a Word table?
Select your table cells, click on the Borders icon on the Home tab, and choose 'No Border', or specifically toggle off the 'Inside Vertical Border' in the Borders and Shading menu.
Does changing the table style fix the tick marks?
Yes, applying a fresh table style from the Table Design tab can overwrite underlying border formats and clear out any customized glitches causing the tiny marks.
