How to Stop Word from Turning Hyphens into a Line on Mac
Question details
The user wants to disable the automatic formatting feature in Microsoft Word for Mac that changes two consecutive hyphens into a solid line or an em dash.
- Product
- Microsoft Word for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Typing double hyphens (--) in a document to separate thoughts or characters, expecting them to remain as standard hyphens.
- Observed behavior
- Word automatically applies AutoFormat rules, instantly changing typed double hyphens into an em dash or drawing a solid horizontal border across the page.
Ensure you have your Microsoft Word document open on your Mac. It helps to have a test sentence ready to verify your new AutoCorrect settings immediately after making the changes.
Disable Hyphen to Dash Replacement in Word Preferences
Use the built-in AutoFormat As You Type settings in Word for Mac to turn off the automatic conversion of hyphens.
Microsoft Word includes an 'AutoFormat As You Type' feature designed to speed up formatting. While helpful, it can be frustrating when you intentionally want to type raw hyphens without them converting into em dashes or horizontal page borders. You can easily toggle this behavior off from the main preferences menu.
Click on 'Word' in the top Apple menu bar next to the Apple logo, and select 'Preferences' from the dropdown menu (or press Command + Comma on your keyboard).
In the Word Preferences window, locate and click on the 'AutoCorrect' icon, which is typically found under the 'Authoring and Proofing Tools' section.
Click on the 'AutoFormat As You Type' tab located at the top of the AutoCorrect dialog box to reveal real-time formatting rules.
Find the section labeled 'Replace as you type'. Uncheck the box corresponding to 'Hyphens (--) with dash'.
If Word is drawing a full horizontal line when you type three hyphens and press Return, look under the 'Apply as you type' section in the same tab and uncheck 'Borders' (or 'Border lines'). Close the window to save your settings.
Try WPS Office for Mac: A Seamless Word Alternative
If Microsoft Word's automatic formatting becomes frustrating to manage, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible Office alternative that gives you intuitive, easy-to-find controls over your document's text formatting and AutoCorrect settings.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free macOS installer.
- 2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded package and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open and Edit: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Word documents to enjoy seamless editing without unwanted formatting surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word automatically create a horizontal line when I type hyphens?
Word has a feature called 'AutoFormat As You Type' designed to save time. When you type three or more consecutive hyphens and press the Enter (Return) key, Word assumes you are trying to insert a horizontal divider and automatically creates a solid paragraph border across the page.
What is the difference between an en dash, an em dash, and a hyphen?
A hyphen (-) is short and connects parts of words. An en dash (–) is slightly longer and is typically used to indicate ranges, such as dates or times. An em dash (—) is the longest and is used to indicate sudden pauses or breaks in a sentence. Word's AutoCorrect often converts two hyphens into an em dash automatically.
How do I remove a horizontal line that Word has already created?
Because the horizontal line is actually a paragraph border, you cannot delete it like normal text. To remove it, click your cursor immediately above the line. Then, go to the 'Home' tab on the ribbon, find the 'Borders' icon in the Paragraph group, click the dropdown arrow, and select 'No Border'.
Can I temporarily reverse the hyphen AutoCorrect without changing my settings?
Yes. Immediately after Word converts your hyphens into a dash or a horizontal line, press Command + Z on your Mac keyboard. This undoes the automatic formatting action while keeping the raw text you just typed.
