WinWord: CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR Breaks if Adjacent to Hyphen

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Word for Windows, the nonbreaking space (CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR) does not prevent word wrapping between characters if one of the characters is a hyphen (-).

MORE INFORMATION

If you type CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR between characters, that word or set of characters does not split at the end of a line. If one of the characters is a hyphen (-), Word for Windows uses that hyphen as a hyphenation character and splits the word after it. Text following the hyphen moves to the next line with the hyphen.

If a nonbreaking hyphen follows a field such as a symbol field, the hypen will actually break. A field is considered a different word.

Workaround

Type a nonbreaking hyphen (CTRL+SHIFT+HYPHEN) instead of a nonbreaking space. When word wrapping occurs, Word for Windows does not split the hyphenated word.

Steps to Reproduce Problem

1. In a Word for Windows document, type any character.

2. Press CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR.

3. Type a HYPHEN (-), then press CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR, then type any character. For example, type

         -<CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR>X
   

4. Position the insertion point at the beginning of the line. Press SPACEBAR until word wrapping occurs. Notice that the hyphen does not wrap with the nonbreaking space.