Note: This step requires a display of non-printing characters.

The text will now show all non-printable characters. In the Paragraph group, click on the Pilcrow icon, which looks like a backwards capital P. In the top menu bar, click on the Home tab to change the ribbon. This method allows you to either show or hide the non-printing characters as you like. Method #2: Show or Hide Specific Non-Printing Characters

Your document will no longer display any non-printing characters. In the right pane, scroll down to Always show these formatting marks on the screen.Ĭlick and unselect all the check boxes in front of the characters.Ĭlick on the OK button at the bottom of the dialog box to close it. In the Word Options dialog box, click on the Display tab in the left pane. Open the Word Options dialog box (Step #2). This is what it may look like: Step #4: Stop displaying non-printing characters Your document will now always display the non-printing characters you have chosen.Click the OK button at the bottom of the dialog box to close it.Click and select the characters that you always want to see in your document.įor this example, we have selected all the options.In the right pane, scroll down to Always show these formatting marks on the screen.In the Word Options dialog box, click on the Display tab in the left pane.Step #3: Select the non-printing characters to display This will open the Word Options dialog box. In the top menu bar, click on the File tab. This method allows you to handpick the non-printing characters that Word will always display. Method #1: Always Display Non-Printing Characters We will explain the two methods above, and show you their execution in easy, step-by-step instructions. Show or hide Specific non-printing characters.Always display selected non-printing characters,.2 Methods to display non-printing characters in Microsoft Word Once you have finished with the diagnosis, you may want to hide these characters again to view your document as it will be printed. You can tell where you have added an extra return or inserted two spaces between words. Sometimes, displaying non-printing characters on the screen helps. Hence, they are known as non-printing characters.

These characters are normally not visible and will not show up when you print the document. In any MS Word document, by default, only the characters you type in are visible.īut Word also places extra characters in the text for formatting.

Hide non printing characters