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You can have Word hyphenate your text automatically as you type your text, or later, in one pass. You can also use manual hyphenation to have Word make hyphenation suggestions. Automatic hyphenation is quicker and easier, although manual hyphenation provides more control.

  1. Click where you want to insert a nonbreaking hyphen.

  2. Press Ctrl+Shift+Hyphen .

  1. On the Layout tab, click the arrow next to Hyphenation .

  2. Select Automatic.

  1. On the Layout tab, click the arrow next to Hyphenation .

  2. Select Manual.

    Word identifies each hyphenation possibility in turn.

  3. In the Manual Hyphenation dialog box, click the hyphenation location that you want, and then click Yes.

You can limit the number of consecutive hyphens.

  1. On the Layout tab, click the arrow next to Hyphenation .

  2. Select Hyphenation Options.

  3. In the Limit consecutive hyphens box, type the maximum number, and then click OK.

  1. Select the text.

  2. On the Home tab, expand the Paragraph group.

  3. In the Paragraph dialog box, select the Line and Page Breaks tab.

  4. Under Formatting exceptions, select the Don't hyphenate check box.

You can control the number of hyphens in your document by adjusting the margin width.

  1. On the Layout tab, click Margins .

  2. Choose one of the preset margin widths, or choose Custom Margins and then enter Top, Bottom, Left, and Right margin widths.

  3. Click OK.

See also

Change the line spacing in Word

Set page margins in Word

Keyboard shortcuts in Word

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