Looking to break up text in tables or long strings of numbers — exactly where you want? Wish you could insert invisible breaks that keep your Word docs neat without leaving any visible gaps? Find out here how to insert and use zero-width space for optional hyphenation and non-breaking invisible space in Word ⤓ for Windows and Mac.
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How to Insert and Use Zero-Width Space in Word
Zero-Width Space as Optional Line Break
Time needed: 2 minutes
To insert a zero-width space character to enable a line break at the point with Microsoft Word for Windows and Word for Mac:
- Position the text cursor where you want the optional line break to occur.
Here’s where: An optional line break is most useful in long strings of text that do have opportune points of breaking that Word does not recognize, e.g. URLs or data in tables.
- Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon.
- Select Symbol | More Symbols… (Windows) or Advanced Symbol (Mac).
- Go to the Special Characters tab.
- Highlight Optional Hyphen.
No-hyphen break: On Windows, Word’s Symbol dialog also contains access to the non-breaking zero-width space (see below); highlight No-Width Optional Break to insert it instead.
- Click Insert.
Word keyboard shortcuts: You can also press Ctrl Alt - (hyphen) on Windows and Command Option - (hyphen) on a Mac to insert the optional hyphen in Word.
- Now click Close.
Their word: Microsoft include information on the Symbol dialog in Word help.
The other way round: Zero-Width Space Detector: Zaps Hidden Chars from Text
Non-Breaking Zero-Width Space
To insert a zero-width space at a point where no line break should occur in Word for Windows and Word for Mac:
- Turn on math AutoCorrect rules for regular text; see below.
Here’s why: Word includes an expansion rule for the zero-width non-breaking space only for mathematical contexts (where one is admittedly most likely to use them) across platforms.
Non-breaking space: You can also insert visible protected, non-breaking whitespace in Word, of course. - Type
\zwspwhere you want the zero-width space character to appear. - Press Space.
Here’s what happens:\zwspwill be replaced with a zero-width non-breaking space followed by regular whitespace character (from pressing Space). - Now press Backspace to delete the regular whitespace c character.
Enable Mathematical AutoCorrect Outside Mathematical Contexts in Word
To turn on expansion of math text replacements for regular text in Word:
- Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon.
- Select Symbol | More Symbols… (Windows) or Advanced Symbol (Mac).
- Now click AutoCorrect….
- Go to the Math AutoCorrect tab.
- Check Use Math AutoCorrect rules outside of math regions.
- Click OK.
Word now all spaced out?
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How to Insert and Use Zero-Width Space in Word: FAQ
What is the difference between “Optional Hyphen” and “No-Width Optional Break?”
When an optional hyphen is an opportune point for a line break, Word will break the line and insert a hyphen for continuation. Otherwise, the character is invisible and does not affect the word or flow of text.
When a no-width optional break is at an opportune point for a line break, the line will break without a hyphen. The character is invisible, but will break words into, e.g., for the spelling checker.
| Optional Hyphen | No-Width Optional Break | |
|---|---|---|
| Breaks line if opportune | ✔ | ✔ |
| Inserts hyphen at break | ✔ | ➖ |
| Invisible | ✔ | ✔ |
| Keeps word intact | ✔ | ➖ |
| Breaks spelling checker | ➖ | ✔ |
Can I insert a zero-width space or optional hyphen in Word online or the Word app?
No.
You cannot insert zero-width spaces using Word online in a browser or the Word apps for Android and iPhone.
Yes.
You can paste a zero-width space or zero-width non-breaking space (word joining) Unicode character, of course. Use the table below to copy these characters:
Zero-width space | |
Zero-width non-breaking space |
(Tested with Word for Windows Version 2411–2509 and Word for Mac 16.92–16.102; first published December 2024, last updated October 2025)