How to Fix Periods Appearing Between Words When Changing Fonts in Acrobat
Question details
Users need to stop periods from automatically generating between words when altering text fonts in a PDF file.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro 10, Acrobat Pro 11
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Changing the font type of existing text while editing a PDF document.
- Observed behavior
- When the font is changed, unexpected periods or dots replace the normal spaces between words, likely due to font-handling limitations or missing source fonts.
Before troubleshooting, save a backup copy of your original PDF document and verify that the target fonts are fully installed on your operating system.
Verify Document Fonts and Repair Acrobat Installation
Determine if the font spacing issue is isolated to a specific document or caused by a corrupted Adobe Acrobat installation.
Older versions like Acrobat Pro 10 have known limitations with specific font types. Testing across different files helps isolate whether the issue is systemic or document-specific.
Open a completely different PDF file in Acrobat and attempt to change the font. Observe if periods still appear between words in this new document.
If the issue happens in only one document, go to 'File' > 'Properties' > 'Fonts' to ensure the original document fonts were properly embedded and not corrupted.
If periods appear in every document you test, open Adobe Acrobat and navigate to the 'Help' menu at the top of the screen.
Select 'Repair Acrobat Installation' from the drop-down menu and follow the on-screen prompts to allow the software to fix missing or broken components.
Update Adobe Acrobat Software
Apply the latest software updates or upgrade to a newer version to resolve legacy font-handling bugs.
Edit PDF Text and Fonts Seamlessly with WPS Office
If you are struggling with legacy bugs in older PDF editors, WPS Office provides a modern, lightweight, and highly accurate PDF editing experience. Easily change text, swap fonts, and adjust layouts without formatting glitches.
- 1. Open the PDF: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF document you wish to edit.
- 2. Access edit mode: Navigate to the 'Edit' tab located in the top ribbon and click on the 'Edit Text' button.
- 3. Modify the font: Highlight the text you want to modify, then select your desired font from the font drop-down menu. The text will update cleanly.
- 4. Save changes: Click the 'Save' icon or press Ctrl+S to save your newly formatted PDF document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do periods appear when I change fonts in Acrobat?
This glitch occurs because the PDF software misinterprets the space character mapped to the new font, often due to font-handling limitations in older versions like Acrobat Pro 10, or because the original document had improperly embedded fonts.
Does upgrading Acrobat fix PDF font spacing issues?
Yes. Newer versions like Acrobat Pro 11 or Acrobat DC utilize an updated font engine that significantly improves font substitution, resolving legacy spacing bugs where periods appear between words.
How can I check if a font is properly embedded in my PDF?
Open your document in Adobe Acrobat, navigate to 'File' > 'Properties', and select the 'Fonts' tab. This menu lists every font used in the document and specifies whether each is fully embedded, embedded as a subset, or not embedded.
