Using Show/Hide Paragraph, Text Disappears

[hebrewbacon]

I created a document using many continuous breaks and column breaks. While
writing it, I had the "show/hide paragraph" button on "show", so all
formatting marks were displayed in the document. However, when I toggle off
that option, a large portion of the text simply disappears. I noticed that
all of the text that disappears has little dots underneath of it (almost like
it's underlined with a dot pattern, except the pattern is slightly lower than
normal underlining). The text that has these dots underneath of it cannot be
copy-pasted, yet all other text can. Additionally, the formatting goes
totally screwy (outside of disappearing text ) once "show/hide paragraph" is
on "hide", with text that should be using the normal template taking on two
columns, etc. If anybody knows how to make the "underdotted" text normal,
I'd love to know how. I need to submit this document to my professor, but I
don't know any way to solve the problem without rewriting it (and honestly,
I'd prefer to understand the problem than simply rewrite the document).
Thanks very much!

 

[DeanH]

The dot underline and the affects you describe indicates that "Hidden" manual
formatting has been applied to that text. Select the text that has the dots,
then go to Font and uncheck the Hidden option.
You dont mention which version of Word you are using so instuctions can be
different to accomplish this. First try I would recommend is to select the
text and then right-mouse click.
Your comment of "taking on two columns" needs further expanation but
hopefully once the Hidden format has been removed this may be resolved.
Hope this helps
DeanH