Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Inserting a Non-Breaking Space.
When Word calculates line width and wraps text to the next line, it tries to break the line at either a space or a hyphen. Sometimes, however, you may not want Word to break a line at a certain space. For instance, you may want to make sure that two adjacent words appear on the same line as each other. The answer is to use non-breaking spaces instead of regular spaces when you don't want Word to break a line at a certain space. To do this, hold down the Ctrl and Shift keys as you press the Spacebar. Word will then not break the line at that point.
An alternative way of inserting a non-breaking space is to follow these steps:
Figure 1. The Special Characters tab of the Symbol dialog box.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1081) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Inserting a Non-Breaking Space.
Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2013. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word 2013 Step by Step today!
The vast majority of what you enter into a document can be accomplished through the use of the regular keyboard. However, ...
Discover MoreWhen you type quote marks in a document, Word normally changes them to Smart Quotes. They look better on a printout, but Word ...
Discover MoreSearch through the Symbol dialog box, and you may see some special characters whose names seem odd. These are the no-width ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2016-12-08 15:37:59
Viola Gilbert
What if I need to protect the dash itself? For instance: 1-1/2 inch It is wrapping between the 1 and the -, but if I use the non-breaking space there is a space between the 1 and -, which I do not want. How do I protect the entire "1-1/2 inch" from separating?
2013-11-21 10:29:54
Gavin Ward
ADVANCED CONTROL OF NON-BREAKING SPACE.
=======================================
On printing (or print preview) Word updates the fields and strips-out non-breaking spaces in the cross-reference fields, putting them back to normal spaces.
Where the cross-reference is to a caption, it can be retained by putting the non-breaking space in the caption.
However, how can you do it a Word Reference Table where the string
"[Ref. X]" in col 1 of the table does not seem to be accessible the user for editing?
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.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2017 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: 
Comments