If you see small dots between every word in your Microsoft Word document, you're looking at formatting marks. They're there to help you see spaces, paragraph breaks, and other invisible characters—but they can be distracting.
How to Hide Formatting Marks
There are two easy ways to turn them off:
Method 1: Use the Button
- Look in the Home tab of the ribbon at the top
- Find the paragraph symbol (¶) button
- Click it to toggle formatting marks on or off
Method 2: Use the Keyboard
Press Ctrl + Shift + 8 on Windows, or Command + 8 on Mac.
What Do the Marks Mean?
- Dots = Spaces between words
- ¶ = Paragraph break (Enter key)
- → = Tab character
Still Having Trouble?
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