When typing a document in Microsoft Word, the software automatically breaks a line of text at a standard space whenever it reaches the right-hand margin. While this is necessary for normal paragraph flow, it can cause problems for specific phrasing. For example, you never want a title like “Mr.” at the end of one line and the surname “Smith” at the beginning of the next. Similarly, dates like “October 14,” or measurements like “10 kg,” should remain visually grouped together on the same line. To prevent Word from splitting these word pairs, you must use a Non-Breaking Space.
How to Insert a Non-Breaking Space
A non-breaking space looks exactly like a regular space, but it acts like invisible glue, binding the two words on either side of it so tightly that Word treats them as a single, long word when calculating line breaks.
- Open your document in Microsoft Word.
- Place your blinking text cursor exactly where you want to insert the space (for example, between “Mr.” and “Smith”). Ensure you have deleted any normal spaces between the words first.
- On a Windows PC, press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Spacebar simultaneously.
- On a Mac, press the keyboard shortcut Option + Shift + Spacebar simultaneously.
If the first word is near the edge of the margin, both words will instantly jump down to the next line together, preserving their context.
How to View Your Non-Breaking Spaces
Because a non-breaking space is invisible, it is easy to forget where you placed them. You can toggle hidden formatting symbols to verify their existence.
Click on the Home tab in the ribbon. In the “Paragraph” group, click the Show/Hide ¶ button (it looks like a backwards ‘P’).
Regular spaces will now appear as tiny floating dots between words ( · ). Your non-breaking spaces will appear as tiny, floating degree symbols or circles ( ° ). Click the Show/Hide button again to hide the symbols before printing.