Microsoft Word Changes Hyphen Mark

Question

Sometimes when I type in a hyphen (-) mark, a few moments later Microsoft Word changes it into a longer hyphen mark.  Not sure why or how to stop it.  ty

Answer 1

The Hyphens to Dash option appears on both the "AutoFormat" and the "AutoFormat As You Type" tabs of the AutoCorrect dialog. The one you really need to uncheck is the one on "AutoFormat As You Type", as that's the one causing the problem. The "AutoFormat" options take effect only when you manually invoke the AutoFormat command by the Alt+Ctrl+K shortcut.

Answer 2

Dave (with correction by Jay) has told you how to prevent this, but you may want simply to understand the conditions under which this will happen:

1. A single hyphen between words will always remain a hyphen.
2. A single hyphen preceded and followed by spaces will be converted to an en dash after you have typed a word following the space.
3. A single hyphen preceding a word (without a space), such as "-ending," will be converted to an en dash when you finish the following word.
4. Two hyphens preceded and followed by spaces will also be converted to an en dash, but two hyphens between words, without spaces (or two hyphens followed, but not preceded, by a space), will be converted to an em dash.
5. Experiment will determine the results of other combinations of hyphens and spaces.

The rationale for the above conversions is that a spaced en dash (case 2) is used in the UK where we in the U.S. use an em dash (without spaces). These conversions make it easy for writers to insert these punctuation marks. What they do not facilitate is inserting an en dash without spaces, as you might need between inclusive page numbers or a game score. For that, you need to use a keyboard shortcut (either the built-in one or a custom one that you define).

I had defined keyboard shortcuts for en and em dashes (and en and em spaces) before the AutoFormat As You Type feature debuted, and I still use them most of the time in Word. For some reason they work only intermittently in Outlook, so I'm grateful for the AutoFormat As You Type option.

Answer 3

Hi Brad

In Word, go to File - Options

On the left, choose Proofing and in the right, click AutoCorrect Options

Select the Autoformat Tab

Untick the option to change Hyphens to a Dash

Save that setting . . .

Answer 4

Thanks to everyone for your solution.