How to Insert a Non-Breaking Hyphen in Word

A hyphen often occurs at the end of a line. What, though, if you want to avoid just that? You can have a hyphen connect parts of words, sentence fragments and numbers without breaking a line: find out here how to insert a non-breaking hyphen in Word (and other Office applications).

First, Subtracting Symmetrically

If you have two sets, you can take one of them and remove all the items that are also in the other. That is subtraction.

By the same token, you can, of course, also subtract the first set from the second.

What, though, if you try to subtract the two sets from each other all at once? The result is their symmetric difference—or, less elegantly, the disjunctive union—: all the items that are in only one of the two sets.

Now, the symmetric difference is typically written as $\mathit{A}\ominus \mathit{B}$, and with a non-breaking hyphen we’d be already well on our way to producing that ⊖ character. So, how about starting right there?

How to Insert a Non-Breaking Hyphen in Word (and Other Office Applications)

Not using Word? How to Enter a Non-Breaking Hyphen on Windows
On a Mac without Word? How to Insert the Non-Breaking Hyphen ( ‑ ) on a Mac

In Word for Windows and Word for Mac

Using the Non-Breaking Hyphen Keyboard Shortcut

Using the Word Symbol Dialog

To insert the non-breaking hyphen in Word using the Symbol dialog:

1. Put the text cursor where you want to place the non-breaking hyphen.
2. Open the Insert tab on the ribbon.
3. Word for Windows: Select Symbol | More Symbols… in the Symbols section.
   Word for Mac: Click Advanced Symbol in the ribbon.
4. Go to the Special Characters tab.
5. Double-click ‑ Nonbreaking Hyphen.
   

Word for Windows: Using the Hexadecimal Unicode Codepoint

You can also insert a non-breaking hyphen in Microsoft Word (or WordPad) using its Unicode codepoint.

To insert a no-break space using Unicode in Word for Windows:

1. Put the text cursor where the no-break hyphen should appear.
   Copy and paste: You can also highlight and copy the hyphen, of course, after you have inserted it to paste somewhere else.
2. Type 2011.
3. Press Alt X immediately to have the code replaced.

In Word on the Web

To enter a non-breaking hyphen using Word on the Web in a browser:

• Use the operating system’s method of inserting a no-break hyphen:
  Mac: How to Insert the Non-breaking Hyphen ( ‑ ) on a Mac
  Windows: How to Enter a Non Breaking Hyphen on Windows

You can also paste a copied non-breaking hyphen, of course.

Not a symbol in the dialog: While Word on the Web does include a Symbol dialog, it does not include the non-breaking hyphen.

In Word for Android, iPhone, and iPad

To use a non-breaking hyphen in Word for iOS and Android:

1. Copy the non-breaking hyphen character using the following button:
   Copy No-Break Hyphen
2. Position the text cursor where you want the hyphen to appear.
3. Paste the character.

Word for iOS and Android do not include access to the no-break hyphen in their interface, and neither to the standard keyboards on these platforms. On an iPhone, you can set up a character combination that will insert a non-breaking hyphen, however.

How to Insert a Non-Breaking Hyphen in Word: FAQ

Can I change the keyboard shortcut for a non-breaking hyphen?

Yes, you can customize the shortcut for the non-breaking hyphen in Office applications:

1. Open the Special Characters tab in the Office Symbol dialog. (See above.)
2. Highlight ‑ Nonbreaking Hyphen.
3. Click Shortcut Key… (Word for Windows) or Keyboard Shortcut… (Word for Mac).
4. Click in the Press new shortcut key: field.
5. Now press the key combination you would like to use for no-break hyphens.
6. Click Assign.
7. Click Close.
8. Now click Close again.

Can I use Word AutoCorrect to enter non-breaking hyphens?

Yes.

To set up Office applications automatically replace a certain combination of characters with a non-breaking hyphen:

1. Open the Symbol dialog’s Special Characters tab; see above.
2. Highlight ‑ Nonbreaking Hyphen.
3. Now click AutoCorrect….
4. Check Replace text as you type.
5. Now type the character combination you want to be replaced with a non-breaking hyphen under Replace:.
   Example: You can use something like _-, for instance.
   The hyphen’s already there: Note (and check) the non-breaking hyphen has already been entered under With:.
6. Click Add.
   
7. Now Click OK and then Close.

Can I use non-breaking hyphens in LaTeX and disable hyphenation just for a hyphen?

Yes, you can use the non-breaking Unicode hyphen in LaTeX. It is easiest and possibly more versatile to use a package, though.

To prevent LaTeX hyphenation at a hyphen using a ready-made LaTeX package:

1. Install ncctools from CTAN (which contains extdash).
   Here’s how: You can typically use Tex Live manager or Tex Live Utility to add the package if it is not yet installed.
2. Load the extdash package (after all other packages) in your document using \usepackage[shortcuts]{extdash}.
3. Use the following for non-breaking hyphens and dashes:
   \=/ – non-breaking hyphen
   \== – non-breaking n-dash
   \=== – non-breaking m-dash

Example

\usepackage[shortcuts]{extdash}

shall be a non-breaking hyphen. At the end of this line shall be a non-breaking hyphen.

shall be a non-breaking hyphen. At the end of this line shall be a non\=/breaking hyphen.

The code above produces the following output:

(How to insert a non-breaking hyphen tested with Word for Windows Version 2112–2408 and Word for Mac Version 16.54; first published February 2022, last updated September 2024)