Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Word on iPad Adding Spaces After Quotation Marks

Amos Gikunda Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to prevent Microsoft Word on iPad from automatically inserting spaces after quotation marks and incorrectly capitalizing subsequent words.

How to Fix Word on iPad Adding Spaces After Quotation Marks

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: iPadOS
Scenario: Typing documents containing quoted text in the Microsoft Word mobile app.
Observed behavior: Word automatically adds an unwanted space after a quotation mark and sometimes capitalizes the first word immediately following the quoted text.

Before you start

Ensure your iPad is updated to the latest iPadOS version, as Apple frequently releases fixes for keyboard and autocorrect behaviors. It is also helpful to verify that your Microsoft Word app is updated to the newest release from the App Store.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Autocorrect and Auto-Capitalization in iPadOS

Turn off the system-wide autocorrect and auto-capitalization features to stop iPadOS from forcing unwanted spacing and capitalization in Word.

Often, the typing behaviors observed in the Word app are actually triggered by the iPad's system-wide keyboard settings. Disabling these temporarily can help identify if iPadOS is the root cause.

Open iPad Settings

Go to the home screen of your iPad and open the 'Settings' app.

Navigate to Keyboard Settings

Tap on 'General' in the left menu, then scroll down and tap on 'Keyboard' on the right side.

Toggle Off Autocorrect Features

Find the toggles for 'Auto-Correction' and 'Auto-Capitalization' and switch them to the off position.

Test in Word

Open the Microsoft Word app and type a quotation mark to verify if the spacing and capitalization issues have been resolved.

Disable Autocorrect and Auto-Capitalization in iPadOS

Solution 2

Disable Grammar Suggestions in Word

If system settings do not fix the problem, Word's internal grammar and spelling checker might be forcing the spacing.

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Try WPS Office for a Seamless iPad Typing Experience

If Microsoft Word's autocorrect glitches and spacing bugs are disrupting your workflow on iPadOS, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and user-friendly mobile experience designed for smooth typing and editing.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsOptimized keyboard and typing experience free from common iPadOS spacing bugsFree to use with a lightweight installation sizeFamiliar interface for quick and easy migration from Microsoft Office

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word on iPad capitalize the word immediately after a quote?

This usually occurs because the iPadOS auto-capitalization feature mistakenly registers the closing quotation mark as the end of a sentence. Disabling auto-capitalization in the iPad's General > Keyboard settings typically resolves this.

Does Smart Punctuation affect Word on iPad?

Yes, the Smart Punctuation setting in iPadOS automatically converts straight quotes to curly quotes. This conversion can sometimes trigger spacing and formatting glitches in third-party apps like Microsoft Word. You can disable it in your iPad's Keyboard settings.

Can I turn off autocorrect only for the Word app on my iPad?

iPadOS controls autocorrect globally across most apps, so you cannot disable system autocorrect exclusively for Word. However, you can check Word's internal settings under Proofing to disable any app-specific spelling and grammar corrections.

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