Word 2008 adds a space at end of line

[The New guy]

So I use the full width when creating documents in Word 2008 with the
Wrap to Window option activated. Recently I've noticed that Word adds a
space at the end of a line when none was there. If I type this
The boy ran down the hill.
And copy and paste it into a Word document, then highlight it (3 clicks
with the mouse) there is a space after the period. When I do the same
with Textedit or Pages there is none. I don't mind using plain text if
that helps solve this problem. I copy and paste long lines of text (with
no spaces between the punctuation) and when Word adds spaces it messes
things up. I have to go back to the pasted version and delete the
spaces. Surely there is a way of turning this "feature" off. I really
like Word and would love to continue to use it for everything document
related if possible.

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Try turning off Word | Preferences | Edit, "smart cut and paste". I
believe that adds a space where one ought to be--like after a sentence.

 

[The New guy]

So I use the full width when creating documents in Word 2008 with the

Try turning off Word | Preferences | Edit, "smart cut and paste". I
believe that adds a space where one ought to be--like after a sentence.

Never had it running in the first place.

 

[CyberTaz]

Never had it running in the first place.

Well, Yeah ya did - it's on by default when you install the program. Did you
bother to look? But that is only part of the issue and only when you're
pasting into an existing paragraph.

Unlike the other programs you mentioned Word docs are constructed on the
basis of containers called paragraphs. In a new blank doc there is an empty
para waiting for content to be added. At the end of each para (even if it
contains no text) there is a ¶ - turn on the non-printing characters by
clicking the button on the standard toolbar marked with that symbol so you
can see them.

The triple-click technique you're using is the equivalent of the select
Paragraph command so by using that technique you're selecting the marker at
the end of the paragraph as well. Since you don't have those markers
displayed you can't see that so it looks like you've selected a space.

If you don't want to copy the paragraph marker (¶) you'll have to use a
different technique - such as dragging or Shift-Clicking - *as well as*
following Daiya's on-target advice and in addition to removing the check on
Word> Preferences> Edit - Include paragraph mark when selecting paragraphs.

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

 

[The New guy]

Well, Yeah ya did - it's on by default when you install the program. Did you
bother to look? But that is only part of the issue and only when you're
pasting into an existing paragraph.

Yes - I went through all the Preferences and turned off almost
everything "automatic". I didn't want stuff being done that I don't
know about.

Unlike the other programs you mentioned Word docs are constructed on the
basis of containers called paragraphs. In a new blank doc there is an empty
para waiting for content to be added. At the end of each para (even if it
contains no text) there is a ¶ - turn on the non-printing characters by
clicking the button on the standard toolbar marked with that symbol so you
can see them.

Yes - good suggestion. I've used that before - forgot about it. A good
visual guide to see "what's happening".

The triple-click technique you're using is the equivalent of the select
Paragraph command so by using that technique you're selecting the marker at
the end of the paragraph as well. Since you don't have those markers
displayed you can't see that so it looks like you've selected a space.

I've been eliminating the space at the end by Shift_Command_Left arrow
from the end of the line. Seems to work.

If you don't want to copy the paragraph marker (¶) you'll have to use a
different technique - such as dragging or Shift-Clicking - *as well as*
following Daiya's on-target advice and in addition to removing the check on
Word> Preferences> Edit - Include paragraph mark when selecting paragraphs.

Thanks Bob. I'll work with that for a while.

 

[CyberTaz]

<snip>

I've been eliminating the space at the end by Shift_Command_Left arrow
from the end of the line. Seems to work.

<snip>

If you have a lot of this stuff to do check out the Find & Replace advanced
features by clicking the "More" jellybean in the lower left corner of the
dialog. Take a look at the Special list whereby you can replace such things
as ¢Ò,?,¡¤, and ¡æ with nothing in order to remove 'em on a wholesale basis.

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

 

[The New guy]

<snip>

<snip>

If you have a lot of this stuff to do check out the Find & Replace advanced
features by clicking the "More" jellybean in the lower left corner of the
dialog. Take a look at the Special list whereby you can replace such things
as ¢Ò,?,¡¤, and ¡æ with nothing in order to remove 'em on a wholesale basis.

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

Great idea. Thanks. Never would have thought of that. It could be very
useful as it only applies to certain areas of pages.