autoformat/text question

[jo]

I'm working on a big document that uses the symbol "-" a lot.
However, now I can't seem to get that symbol, instead it just comes out
as two small dashes "--'

I've gone to autocorrect/autoformat. It appears the boxes are ticked
for all signs and symbols to be converted as have been, but it's not
the case in practice.

I realise I've not articulated the question well, but any suggestions
as to why this is happening and how I can change it?

Thanks

 

[CyberTaz]

I believe it works the same on Mac & PC, but am not at a Mac to verify, but
if I recall correctly the change doesn't occur until *after* you type the
next word & press spacebar. Also, the feature behaves differently if you
include space before & after the -- than if you just put the -- between 2
words without spacing.

Keep in mind that it only works on an 'as-you-type' basis - it will not
automatically go back & change anything that may have been typed while the
feature was turned off.

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

CyberTaz's memory is correct (I think, I've actually jiggered mine a bit)

Word hyphen hyphen word space should convert 2 hyphens to an em dash ‹

Word space hyphen space word space will convert that 1 hyphen to an en dash
­ (same behavior with 2 hyphens between the spaces)

Alternatively, type option-shift-hyphen for an em dash, and option-hyphen
for an en dash.

However, Jo, I can't tell what you want, which looks like a hyphen to me.
Is that an em dash or an en dash?

I have set up a separate AutoCorrect that converts 2 hyphens to an em dash,
because I edit enough that the tie in to typing the space after the next
word failed to correct a lot of my desired em dashes.

You can also find and replace after the fact.

 

[jo]

Hi

Thanks for the reply. However, although I've always done the
hyphen-hyphen-word space and it's worked, it doesn't now...whatever I
do doesn't work.

I've gone to autocorrect/format and the box that indicates turning the
symbol two dashes into en dash is ticked. Not sure why it's not working
still?

 

[CyberTaz]

This type of conversion is addressed in 2 locations for different purposes,
and I'm not certain which you're looking at... There is no
autocorrect/format.

Go to Tools>AutoCorrect and make sure you are viewing the page tabbed as
"AutoFormat As You Type" - that is where the setting is controlled for your
purpose. Make sure there is a check in the appropriate box in the Replace As
You Type section.

The other location is in the same dialog on the page tabbed as "AutoFormat"
- this should only be involved when you use the Tools>AutoFormat feature to
automatically format a document and shouldn't have any bearing on conversion
while you are typing.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Elliott Roper]

Hi

Thanks for the reply. However, although I've always done the
hyphen-hyphen-word space and it's worked, it doesn't now...whatever I
do doesn't work.

I've gone to autocorrect/format and the box that indicates turning the
symbol two dashes into en dash is ticked. Not sure why it's not working
still?

Daiya Mitchell wrote:

All you get from me is a bit of sympathy. I too have seen the tools »
autoformat as you type » symbol characters (--) with symbol (_)
setting go off on an extended holiday to places unknown for reasons
unknown.

However, just in case, read carefully what Daiya said. Turn off that
silly autoformat as you type checkbox, and make an autocorrect entry so
that -- is autocorrected to an em dash. The benefit is that you get the
em dash without having to wait for the space that terminates the
following word. What on earth were they thinking of?) Then, if you
actually want an em dash followed immediately by a space you can have
it without Microsoft Bob sticking his interfering little snout into
your document.

PS Clive Huggan is doing some research into what wine causes the most
acidic Elliott comments about Word.
Data point:
Petit Chablis 2005. Unlike me, a bit young.

 

[jo]

Thanks to all of you - I will now give it a try and let you know how I
get on!