Fix Unicode Combining Characters Appearing Red in Word for Mac
Question details
The user is experiencing an issue where combining Unicode diacritics appear in red font instead of the expected color in Microsoft 365 for Mac.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Typing phonetic symbols (such as the International Phonetic Alphabet) using base characters and Unicode diacritics via the macOS Character Viewer.
- Observed behavior
- The combining diacritic characters appear red and remain red even when printed, exported, or manually changed to a different text color.
Ensure your macOS and Microsoft 365 applications are updated to the latest versions, as font rendering conflicts between the OS and the app are often patched in system updates.
Verify if the Issue is macOS-Specific Using Native Apps
Determine whether the red diacritics issue is caused by a macOS update or isolated to Microsoft Office by testing in native Mac applications.
Font rendering issues frequently arise from conflicts between newer macOS versions (like Big Sur) and specific Office builds. Testing the exact characters in non-Microsoft apps helps isolate the cause.
Launch a native macOS application such as TextEdit or Apple Pages.
Press Ctrl + Cmd + Space on your keyboard to open the macOS Character Viewer.
Type your base character, then insert the combining Unicode diacritic.
Observe whether the diacritic appears red. If it displays normally in black, the issue is strictly isolated to Microsoft Office.
Disable Track Changes and Spelling Check
Red formatting might inadvertently be triggered by Word's markup or spell-check features flagging unfamiliar Unicode combinations.
Try WPS Office for Seamless Unicode and Formatting Support on Mac
If Microsoft 365 continues to struggle with displaying your Unicode characters correctly, WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative. It offers excellent font rendering and full compatibility with Microsoft document formats.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for Mac from the official website.
- 2. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word document containing the phonetic symbols.
- 3. Edit with correct formatting: Insert your Unicode diacritics via the Character Viewer seamlessly without the unwanted red color rendering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Unicode diacritic marks turn red in Word for Mac?
This is often a rendering bug specific to certain combinations of macOS updates (such as macOS Big Sur) and Microsoft Office builds. It can also occasionally be triggered by Word's spelling and grammar checker flagging complex phonetic symbols as misspelled.
Does changing the font color fix the red Unicode characters?
In most cases involving this specific Mac Word bug, manually highlighting the text and changing the font color to black does not resolve the issue. The combining diacritic marks typically remain red even when the document is exported to PDF or printed.
How do I type combining diacritics on a Mac?
You can type combining diacritics by placing your text cursor immediately after the base letter, opening the Character Viewer (Control + Command + Spacebar), and searching for the desired combining Unicode character to insert it.
