How to Insert Nonbreaking Spaces in Microsoft Word (Tutorial)

This tutorial shows how to insert nonbreaking spaces in Microsoft Word using the Symbol dialog box method and the keyboard shortcut method. Before we start the tutorial, we’ll briefly define nonbreaking spaces and see what they look like compared to regular spaces.

The images below are from Microsoft Word 2016. However, the steps are the same for Word 2019 and are similar for Word 2013 and Word 2010.

What Are Nonbreaking Spaces?

Nonbreaking spaces keep words or individual characters from separating at line breaks. Nonbreaking spaces are particularly useful between ellipsis points; however, you can use them between any words or characters that you want to stay together.

In Microsoft Word, regular spaces are represented by a small, solid dot and nonbreaking spaces are represented by a slightly larger circle positioned higher than the regular-space dot.

To see these and other formatting symbols in your Word document, select the Show/Hide option in the Paragraph group of the Home tab. To hide the formatting symbols, reselect the Show/Hide option.

Insert Nonbreaking Spaces in Microsoft Word Using the Symbol Dialog Box

1. Place your cursor where the nonbreaking space should be inserted. Alternately, if a regular space already appears where the nonbreaking space should be inserted, select the regular space, as shown in the image below.

2. Select the Insert tab.

3. Select Symbols in the Symbols group.

4. Select More Symbols in the drop-down menu.

5. Select the Special Characters tab in the Symbol dialog box.

6. Select Nonbreaking Space.

7. Select the Insert button to insert the nonbreaking space.

8. Select the Close button to close the Symbol dialog box.

Insert Nonbreaking Spaces in Microsoft Word Using the Keyboard Shortcut

1. Place your cursor where the nonbreaking space should be inserted. Alternately, if a regular space already appears where the nonbreaking space should be inserted, select the regular space.

2. Select Ctrl + Shift + Space on your keyboard to insert the nonbreaking space.

You can also use Word’s Find and Replace tool to find and replace special characters including nonbreaking spaces. Visit “How to Insert Special Characters in Microsoft Word” to learn more.