3em dash?

[jkauffman2001]

Version: v.X
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)

Hi,
Does anyone know how to get Word X to create a (solid) 3em dash? It should create one from three separate em dashes, but it autoformats these as a paragraph break instead.
Thanks.

 

[CyberTaz]

I only have 2004 & 2008 available to test in but I'm not seeing this in
either one.

How are you inserting the em dashes? What's triggering the break - Space?
3rd dash? Describe exactly what is happening step-by-step.

The first thing that comes to mind is a setting in Tools> AutoCorrect>
AutoFormat as You Type, but that would cause a paragraph border (margin to
margin) & only if you press return after the 3rd dash. Other than that it
could be AutoText or [remote possibility] an AutoCorrect item, but those
would have to have been user-created - that behavior isn't a part of their
default settings.

 

[jkauffman2001]

Thanks for your answer. I've inserted them using the "insert symbol" menu as well as shortcut keys. It automatically creates a space between each dash, so that when I type it it looks like this
- - -

I guess my problem isn't really the paragraph break (that was triggered by pressing return after the three dashes), but that it will not create a solid em dash at it should.

To add to my confusion, when I copied and pasted the three em dashes from an MS word doc into this pane, it did indeed create an em dash:
———

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Version: v.X
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)

Hi,
Does anyone know how to get Word X to create a (solid) 3em dash? It should
create one from three separate em dashes, but it autoformats these as a
paragraph break instead.

Are you sure it's formatting as a paragraph break and not a border?

If you have the Tools/Autocorrect/Autoformat As You Type/Borders
checkbox checked, then when you type three em-dashes (OPT-SHIFT-hyphen),
Word will autoformat the dashes as a paragraph border.

Similarly, if you type three tildes (~), a wavy border will result.

If that checkbox is unchecked, Word should leave three em-dashes alone
(unless you've created a different AutoCorrect for them).

 

[jkauffman2001]

Hi,
Thanks, I've turned the autoformatting off.
As far as making a 3em dash--I finally tried changing the font, and that actually solved the problem (sort of; now I have to reformat a very long document...) For some reason, one cannot make a 3em dash using the Times font.

 

[CyberTaz]

Ahhh - If you are indeed using good *old* Times that might explain it. It's
probably lacking the necessary glyphs to produce the effect and the glyph it
is using is defined in such a way as to call for the gapping. Try using
Times New Roman instead.