Space before symbol

Solved
korirwn Posted messages 90 Status Member -  
 Soaze -
Hello,

In Word, when I type a ? or a !, an automatic space is created with the previous word.
How can I disable this option?

Thank you
Configuration: Windows XP Internet Explorer 6.0

11 answers

m@rina Posted messages 27409 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   11 562
 
Hello,

This is a rule of French typography.

If you type in English, you won't have these spaces.

If you want to override these rules, you need to disable the typography package:
Tools Menu, AutoCorrect Options, While Typing
Uncheck the quotation marks option

m@rina
--
- "On the office forum, questions are asked regarding office work..."
- "Really???"
29
petitrobert
 
However, in Quebec, we do not put a space before ! and ?, as indicated in this article from the linguistic help bank:

http://bdl.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/bdl/gabarit_bdl.asp?id=2039
0
Raymond PENTIER Posted messages 58208 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   17 478 > petitrobert
 
When intervening in a discussion, you need to read ALL the messages: https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-14314125-word-espace-avant-symbole#7
0
ButteDuLac Posted messages 534 Status Member 41
 
It's a mistake. In French, there is no space before punctuation marks !, ?, ., and ,.
In France, they use a non-breaking thin space, which is however complicated to do with a standard word processor like Word. In Quebec, they simply do not use one...
0
BeEu > petitrobert
 
In Belgium, we don't put a space before punctuation either!
0
Jonas
 
Thank you!
0
gotomtom Posted messages 63 Status Member 97
 
I have the solution. It’s true that if you want to indicate a path for your computer like C:\bureau, it’s annoying if Word automatically corrects it to C :\bureau.

To remove this option that automatically inserts a space, you need to do the following:
- Word button (at the top left)
- Word options (at the bottom right of the window that appears)
- Proofing (in the menu on the left)
- Under the 3rd blue line named "When correcting spelling and grammar in Word," click on "Settings" to the right of the "Grammar" field.
- A new window will appear on the screen. In the last point under "Grammar," uncheck "Punctuation and spacing."

There you go, it works.
15
physolamuse
 
Thank you for this intelligent response that doesn't presume the use of characters.
Personally, I had a long list of time codes to fill out and I was quite annoyed by the comments about typographic rules...
0
Kofalartiste Posted messages 7 Status Member
 
Thank you very much, I needed this answer, it's great, less time wasted. Thank you so much.
0
El_Pablo Posted messages 5 Status Member
 
Thank you, the solution is still relevant for version Word 2016. In the same vein, we need to find a solution that would allow us to modify the grammar rules.
0
m@rina Posted messages 27409 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   11 562
 
Hello gotomtom
A year later, isn't it a bit late?
Especially since your solution is wrong!

The "Punctuation and spacing" option only prevents Word from recognizing the absence of space before double punctuation as a mistake, for example.
It does not prevent the automatic space that is created by default when typing in French (from France).

Moreover, URLs (http://...), or Windows addresses (C:\bureau) are not an issue, as another automatic check cancels the default space before the colon!
4
m@rina Posted messages 27409 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   11 562
 
Good evening,

Simply change the input language.

On a specific document: one click on the Language tool in the status bar to change the current language.
In principle, if you click on the Default button, it should change for all new documents.

Unfortunately, there are some issues with 2007 which is resistant to language changes. I've put the solution here that should work:
https://faqword.com/index.php/faq/dictionnaires/337-comment-choisir-une-langue-par-defaut--.html

m@rina
--
- "On the office forum, we ask questions regarding office work..."
- "Oh really???""
3
Nouveau
 
M@rina, you're awesome! Thank you for these tips, but also for clarifying the typographical differences between France and Quebec!
0
m@rina Posted messages 27409 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   11 562
 
Thanks for the feedback! ;))
It is true that this is an unknown feature, perhaps due to the fact that Microsoft hasn't managed to give it a meaningful name (that's an idea for the next version! ;))

Another example: if you choose Spanish, you don't have to bother with upside-down question marks: by pressing the ? it will automatically flip over.... But who knows that? :(
m@rina
0
orderby Posted messages 21 Status Member 19
 
I do not have the solution to your question. But I need to know that the official typing conventions of a document are as follows:
- before and after a question mark, an exclamation point, colons, and semicolons, a space must be placed
- for the period and the comma, no space should be placed before but only after.
- for quotation marks and apostrophes, no space before the text, and no space after the text.

Example: it's the first. The sentence is "the most important" ; but you can, if you want, modify the 'basic' rules. Did you understand my example? It's not easy to find an appropriate text! Hi and good luck
1
Jean-Bapt
 
No, in French, there should be no space before a semicolon. Only before a question mark, an exclamation mark, or a colon.
0
m@rina Posted messages 27409 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   11 562
 
Of course! It's a basic rule of French typography: a space before a double punctuation mark (: ; ! ?).
In pure typography, a thin space should be used. Unfortunately, while this thin space exists in Word, there is no non-breaking thin space...
0
Wordeuse
 
M@rina is absolutely right...
0
Yves Prongué
 
French typography: space before exclamation points & company.
Swiss typography: no space before exclamation points & company, or a thin space if the software allows it.

...and Swiss typography is still more prestigious ;-)
1
Jonathan
 
The Quebec typography also has its own rules.
0
wxc
 
It is a double symbol, so it requires a space before and after.
0
korirwn Posted messages 90 Status Member 3
 
Yes, but I want to remove, for example, the automatic space between the word and !
0
korirwn Posted messages 90 Status Member 3
 
Thank you for your help
0
ViveLaTypographie
 
Good evening,

These typography rules apply only in France. In Quebec, for example, there is no space before the question mark, semicolon, and exclamation mark.

Moreover, it is common not to put a space before the colon and that capital letters can be accented, for example: Éléphant.
0
m@rina Posted messages 27409 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   11 562
 
Hello,

For Quebec, you simply need to choose Canadian French, and the rules will follow, particularly there will indeed be no space before double punctuation.

m@rina
--
- "On the office forum, questions are raised regarding office automation..."
- "Oh really???"
0
Hergé
 
Well yes, m@rina, you're right... except that with MS Word 2016, no matter how much we indicate French => Canada in the spell checker, it keeps inserting spaces before punctuation and detecting errors in the absence of...
It's like a regression of the word processing software! I think it's a mistake and I would really like MS to fix it.
0
m@rina Posted messages 27409 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   11 562
 
Good evening,

I'm not a specialist in Quebec typography, but if I look on Wikipedia, I read this:
"In Quebec and even elsewhere in French Canada, it is rather recommended not to put a space at all (except before colons, where a non-breaking space is mandatory)."

So, I'm testing with Word 2016 and I notice that Word respects these typographical conventions, meaning it does not add a space before double punctuation except before colons.
However, what is new and stupid is that it underlines it as a mistake!
I will send the message to Microsoft, with no assurance of correction... it might end up in the "by design" trash! :)

m@rina
0
ButteDuLac Posted messages 534 Status Member 41
 
Personally, I have my keyboard and language set to French (Canada) and the typography is applied as it should be in Quebec, with no underlining for errors.
0
m@rina Posted messages 27409 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   11 562
 
Hello ButteDuLac, with the 2016 version?
0
ButteDuLac Posted messages 534 Status Member 41 > m@rina Posted messages 27409 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention  
 
Oops! No, with 2010. So very strange if they changed this point for version 2016... why focus on the problems rather than the improvement??? Who knows!
Have a good day, m@rina!
0
smartway14 Posted messages 857 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   186
 
Hello m@rina,
how to do it for Word 2007? Please.
0