How to Prevent Word from Underlining Descenders Using VBA
Question details
The user needs a method to selectively remove underlines from descender letters (q, y, p, j, g) to prevent the underline from crossing through the bottom of the characters.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Formatting document text for better typography and aesthetics where standard underlining makes descender letters look messy.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Word applies a continuous underline that strikes directly through the descending tails of letters like q, y, p, j, and g, with no built-in setting to avoid this.
Ensure your document is saved as a Macro-Enabled Document (.docm) to retain the VBA code, and highlight the text you want to modify before running the macro.
Remove Underlines from Descenders Using a VBA Macro
Run a custom VBA script to automatically scan selected text and remove the underline formatting specifically from descender characters.
Since Microsoft Word lacks a native toggle to skip descenders when underlining, using a Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) macro is the most efficient workaround. This script iterates through your highlighted text and clears the underline formatting only for the letters q, y, p, j, and g.
Open your Word document and press 'Alt + F11' on your keyboard to launch the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.
In the top menu, click 'Insert' and select 'Module' to create a new blank module space for your code.
Copy and paste the following code into the blank module window: Sub RemoveUnderlinesBelowDescenders() For Each oChar In Selection.Characters If oChar Like "[qypjg]" Then oChar.Font.Underline = wdUnderlineNone Next oChar End Sub
Close the VBA Editor. Highlight the underlined text in your document, press 'Alt + F8' to open the Macros dialog, select 'RemoveUnderlinesBelowDescenders', and click 'Run'.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word underline the bottom of letters like 'y' and 'g'?
By default, Microsoft Word's underline formatting applies a continuous line directly under the baseline of the text. Because descender letters (like y, g, p, q, and j) dip below this baseline, the standard underline strikes straight through them.
How do I save a Word document that contains a macro?
Documents containing VBA macros must be saved as a Word Macro-Enabled Document (.docm). If you save it as a standard .docx file, Word will discard the macro code, and you will not be able to run it again in the future.
Will this VBA macro run automatically as I type?
No, the provided VBA macro is designed to run manually on selected text. You must first highlight the text you want to format and then run the macro via the Developer tab or the Macros menu (Alt + F8).
Is there a way to underline text without crossing descenders without using macros?
Yes. Instead of using the standard Underline tool, you can select your text, go to the Paragraph settings group on the Home tab, and apply a 'Bottom Border'. This border naturally sits lower than the descenders, keeping the text highly legible.
