Negative numbers at end of line

[Ruth Levinson]

When I type a line with a negative number like -4.00 at the end, Word will
break off the minus sign and leave it at the end of the line, and put the
4.00 on the next line. I can't figure how to keep Word from automatically
splitting the minus sign from the number. If I catch it, I have to go in and
add spaces in the line to put the minus sign back with the number at the
beginning of the next line.

Any suggestions?

TIA

 

[Graham Mayor]

Use a non-breaking hyphen (CTRL+_ )

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

 

[garfield-n-odie]

Type a nonbreaking dash (Ctrl+Shift+hyphen) instead of a regular dash
before the number.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Or you could use a minus sign (character 2212) instead. I also use this as a
substitute for an en dash when the dash wants to break at the end of a line.
And I ordinarily use an en dash instead of a hyphen for a minus sign because
it is the same width as the plus sign and the numerals.

 

[Ruth Levinson]

Thanks so much to those of you who replied! That's just what I needed.

Ruth

 

[Chuck Davis]

Ruth, look closely. On my version of Word 2003, the character was not a
straight line when using Times New Roman, but a little drop on the end. It
was correct with Verdana.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

I'm not seeing that here. Does it look the same to you at 500% zoom? Does it
print with a hook. It sounds to me as if you're describing the nonprinting
character for a conditional hyphen.

 

[Ruth Levinson]

Chuck -
I'm not seeing the hook with the 2212 character, or the Ctl-Shft-dash in
Times New Roman. What character are you typing?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

It sounds to me like he's typing the "conditional hyphen" (Ctrl+Hyphen),
which, when nonprinting characters are displayed, is displayed as a ¬
(character 00AC).

 

[Ruth Levinson]

OK. Thanks Suzanne. When I typed CTL+HYPHEN

It sounds to me like he's typing the "conditional hyphen" (Ctrl+Hyphen),
which, when nonprinting characters are displayed, is displayed as a ¬
(character 00AC).

 

[Ruth Levinson]

Sorry - Must have hit enter or something while I was typing!

I started to say that when I hit Ctrl+Hyphen and then a number, only the
number shows up, not a hyphen character.

Thanks, Suzanne, for clearing that up for me!

 

[Ruth Levinson]

Sorry for the partial post. I must have hit enter or something.

I started to say that when I type Ctrl+Hyphen and then a number, only the
number shows up.

Thanks, Suzanne, for clearing that up for me!

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Yes, the "conditional hyphen" (which you wouldn't be using in numbers) shows
Word that it is okay to hyphenate a word at that point. If the word comes at
the end of the line, Word will break it at the hyphen (which it then
displays) instead of wrapping the whole word to the next line.