Office Settings & Configuration

Fix a Period Appearing After Deleting Text in Microsoft Word

Natalie Taylor Oct 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing an issue where deleting text in a document unexpectedly inserts a period.

Fix a Period Appearing After Deleting Text in Microsoft Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Removing or editing text within a document using the keyboard.
Observed behavior: A period punctuation mark is inserted instead of the text being deleted, making it difficult to clear text cleanly.

Before you start

Check your keyboard layout to see if you are using a dedicated numeric keypad and verify if the Num Lock indicator light is currently turned on.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Num Lock for the Numeric Keypad

Turn off Num Lock to restore the standard Delete functionality to the numeric keypad's decimal key.

The most common cause of this issue is pressing the Delete key located on the numeric keypad while Num Lock is enabled. When enabled, this key functions as a decimal point (period) instead of deleting text.

Undo the unexpected period

Press Ctrl + Z on your keyboard to instantly undo the period that was just typed into your document.

Turn off Num Lock

Locate the Num Lock (or Num Lk) key on your keyboard, typically situated above the numeric keypad. Press it once to disable the number lock function.

Verify the Delete key function

Select a word in your document and press the same Delete key again. It should now remove the text normally without inserting any punctuation.

Num Lock Disabled: Once Num Lock is turned off, the numeric keypad will default to its secondary navigation and editing functions, such as arrows, Home, End, and Delete.

Solution 2

Hide Nonprinting Formatting Marks

Check if the perceived period is actually a formatting mark representing a space between words.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Delete key type a decimal point?

On full-sized keyboards, the Delete key on the numeric keypad shares the same physical button as the decimal point. When the Num Lock feature is active, the keyboard prioritizes number inputs, turning the Delete key into a decimal point.

How can I tell if nonprinting characters are enabled in my document?

If nonprinting characters are enabled, you will see small raised dots between words, paragraph symbols (¶) at the end of each line, and small arrows indicating tab spaces. These marks do not appear when you print the document.

Can this happen on a laptop without a dedicated numeric keypad?

Yes. Many smaller laptop keyboards use a specialized 'Fn' key overlay to simulate a numeric keypad. If the secondary Num Lock mode is accidentally triggered (usually via Fn + Num Lk), certain regular keys may start typing numbers or periods.

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