automatic em dash always changes my font

[johnmichlig]

This is a problem I've had as long as I've been using WORD.

I have my preferences set to auto-create "em dashes" when I hit two
dashes (--). In WORD, these instances are reformatted from, for
instance, the TIMES font, to ABADI MT CONDENSED.

It wouldn't bother me except that LINE SPACING is subtly shifted on
those lines where TIMES is interrupted by the "em dash" ABADI
instances.

Is there a fix for this?

Also: Is there a way to make a global correction for a 100 page-plus
manuscript?

Thanks,

 

[Elliott Roper]

This is a problem I've had as long as I've been using WORD.

I have my preferences set to auto-create "em dashes" when I hit two
dashes (--). In WORD, these instances are reformatted from, for
instance, the TIMES font, to ABADI MT CONDENSED.

It wouldn't bother me except that LINE SPACING is subtly shifted on
those lines where TIMES is interrupted by the "em dash" ABADI
instances.

Is there a fix for this?

I'd guess you have somehow got your autocorrect from -- to Ñset to
formatted text. Hop into Tools È Autocorrect and change it. (you might
need to delete and replace it. Select an em dash in your doc before you
start.
It is just barely possible that Word is substituting because there is
no em dash glyph in the current font. My copy of Times has one, so I
doubt that is your problem Ñ at least for Times.

Also: Is there a way to make a global correction for a 100 page-plus
manuscript?

Sure. Find and replace, with the triangle down, select format, then
font. You can convince Word to find just your Abadi MT em dashes, and
optionally replace them with couther ones in Times. Replace all zaps
the lot in one swell foop.

PS It might be useful to know that alt shift - produces an em dash.

 

[little_creature]

Hello,
I'm currently on PC, so you will have to help me a bit but have a look
in Tools>AutoCorrect>AutoFormat. DO you have there option Preserve
styles? If so do you have it checked?

 

[little_creature]

Hello,
the other possibility is to
Open new document and type m-dash, highlight it and nawigate to
tools>autocorrect>autotext, the m-dash should appear in the box called
*replace with*, put the -- in to the box before and check the plain
text radio button just above.

 

[Clive Huggan]

Hello John,

I use en dashes and em dashes a lot. I've found it easier to tell
AutoCorrect to change "--" to an en dash (Option-hyphen) and "-=" (because
the keys are next to each other) to an em dash (Shift-Option-hyphen).

AutoCorrect is a very powerful feature for increasing your efficiency,
especially by typing "shorthand" for frequently used terms. For example, I
type my common abbreviations in lower case: "wrdc" expands to "WRDC", and by
repeating the first letter (this is my personal convention only -- I've
found it works well) such as in "wwrdc", AutoCorrect expands to the full
term, "Widget Research and Development Corporation".

Cheers,

Clive Huggan
Canberra, Australia
(My time zone is 5-11 hours different from North America and Europe, so my
follow-on responses to those regions can be delayed)
============================================================

 

[johnmichlig]

Thanks to all for your help. I did the "find-replace" without much
difficulty, but I still have to try the various suggestions for
stopping the auto-change of fonts along with the en-dash. I'll let you
know if I have success.

Hello John,

I use en dashes and em dashes a lot. I've found it easier to tell
AutoCorrect to change "--" to an en dash (Option-hyphen) and "-=" (because
the keys are next to each other) to an em dash (Shift-Option-hyphen).

AutoCorrect is a very powerful feature for increasing your efficiency,
especially by typing "shorthand" for frequently used terms. For example, I
type my common abbreviations in lower case: "wrdc" expands to "WRDC", andby
repeating the first letter (this is my personal convention only -- I've
found it works well) such as in "wwrdc", AutoCorrect expands to the full
term, "Widget Research and Development Corporation".

Cheers,

Clive Huggan
Canberra, Australia
(My time zone is 5-11 hours different from North America and Europe, so my
follow-on responses to those regions can be delayed)
============================================================