Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 31, 2022)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Karyn wrote about problems she was having with leader dots not behaving properly in Word. It seems the dots would appear just fine in Print Preview, but then run beyond where they should when actually printing.
If you've checked to make sure that the tab stops are set properly (they are in the right quantity, of the right type, and in the right position) and that the alignment of the paragraphs is set as it should be (to Left or Justified), then there are a couple of other things you can check. First thing to do is to make sure you reset the printer to factory specifications. You may have to dig out your printer manual, but sometimes the firmware within a printer can get confused and resetting is necessary.
If the problem still isn't solved, then the next thing to check is the printer drivers or the drivers for your video card. You should download the latest drivers from the manufacturer's Web site. Download drivers both for the printer and the video card and replace your old drivers with the new ones.
If you have done this, and the problem still exists, a less-likely cause is that the drivers are too new. Strangely, it can sometime be the latest drivers that introduce a problem that previously wasn't evident. In such cases, particularly if the introduced fault is severe, it can sometime make sense to go back to using an earlier driver version.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (849) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.
Discover the Power of Microsoft Office This beginner-friendly guide reveals the expert tips and strategies you need to skyrocket your productivity and use Office 365 like a pro. Mastering software like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is essential to be more efficient and advance your career. Simple lessons guide you through every step, providing the knowledge you need to get started. Check out Microsoft Office 365 For Beginners today!
You can instruct Word, when printing your document, to print only the odd- or even-numbered pages. This tip explains how ...
Discover MoreIf you have a printer that will print on both sides of a piece of paper, you may want to use that ability within Word. ...
Discover MoreIf you have some fonts that don't show up as available in Word, their exclusion can be confusing. Here's a discussion of ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments