Hide Paragraph Marks (¶) and Other Nonprinting Symbols in Microsoft Word

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated September 14, 2023

Applies to: Microsoft® Word® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 365 (Windows)

You can show or hide paragraph marks (¶) or symbols and other nonprinting characters (such as tabs, spaces and soft returns) in your Microsoft Word documents using the Ribbon or a keyboard shortcut. It's generally a good idea to display paragraph marks and other formatting symbols when working on Word documents. Formatting symbols display only on screen and do not print.

Recommended article: How to Quickly Remove Hard Returns in Word Documents

A paragraph in Word is anything with a hard return after it (you have pressed Enter or Return).

The following symbols are typically displayed when you turn on formatting symbols :

Paragraph – ¶

Space (dot) – .

Tab – →

In the following sample Word document, Show/Hide ¶ is turned on:

Sample Word document with Show or HIde Paragraph Marks or Symbols turned on.

Hide paragraph marks and other nonprinting symbols using the Ribbon

To show or hide paragraph marks and other nonprinting symbols in Word using the Ribbon:

  1. Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
  2. In the Paragraph group, click ¶ (Show/Hide ¶).

Below is the Paragraph group in the Ribbon:

Show Hide Paragraph Marks or Symbols in the Paragraph group in the Ribbon.

Hide paragraph marks and other nonprinting symbols using a keyboard shortcut

To show or hide paragraph marks and other nonprinting symbols in Word using a keyboard shortcut, press Ctrl + Shift + 8 (the asterisk key at the top of the keyboard).

When you display formatting symbols, Word will also display manual page breaks and section breaks in your document.

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Summary
How to Hide Paragraph Marks in Word (or Show Them)
Article Name
How to Hide Paragraph Marks in Word (or Show Them)
Description
You can show or hide paragraph marks (¶) or symbols and other nonprinting characters (such as tabs, spaces and soft returns) in your Microsoft Word documents using the Ribbon or a keyboard shortcut. It’s generally a good idea to display paragraph marks and other formatting symbols when working on Word documents. Formatting symbols display only on screen and do not print.
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Avantix Learning

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