Hyphenate text
Hyphenation can be used to break a word if the entire word does not fit at the end of a line. You can hyphenate automatically by using a preset hyphenation definition in combination with your own hyphenation settings. You can set the minimum number of characters before and after a hyphen. You can also specify the number of characters in the "hot zone," which is the area at the end of a line where hyphenation can occur.
You can insert an optional hyphen in a word to produce a specific word break at the end of a line. You can also create custom definitions that specify the location of optional hyphens in specific words whenever you type, paste, or import the words in the application.
To hyphenate paragraph text automatically
1
Using the
Text tool
, select the text frame or
paragraph text.
If the
Properties docker is not open, click
Window 
Dockers Properties.
2
In the
Properties docker, click the
Paragraph button
to display the paragraph-related options.
3
In the
Paragraph area of the
Properties docker, click the
Options button
, and choose
Hyphenation settings.
4
In the
Hyphenation dialog box, enable the
Automatically hyphenate paragraph text check box.
5
To modify the hyphenation settings, perform one or more tasks from the following table.
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Hyphenate capitalized words |
Enable the Break capitalized words check box. |
Hyphenate words that contain all uppercase letters |
Enable the Break words using ALL CAPS check box. |
Set a minimum word length for automatic hyphenation |
In the Hyphenation criteria area, type a value in the Minimum word length box. This value represents the minimum number of characters that hyphenated words must contain. |
Set the minimum number of characters to precede a hyphen |
In the Hyphenation criteria area, type a value in the Minimum characters before box. |
Set the minimum number of characters to follow a hyphen |
In the Hyphenation criteria area, type a value in the Minimum characters after box. |
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In the Hyphenation criteria area, type a value in the Distance from right margin box. This value represents the number of characters in the hot zone. A word that does not fit within this zone is hyphenated or moved to the next line. |
Hyphenation can be used for any languages that have corresponding writing tools installed with the application. For more information about language modules, see Work with languages.
If you do not see any hyphenated words in the paragraph after applying hyphenation, you may need to modify the hyphenation settings.
To insert an optional hyphen
1
Using the
Text tool
, click in a word where you want to place an optional hyphen.
2
Click
Text Insert Formatting Code Optional Hyphen.
You can insert an optional hyphen by pressing Ctrl + -.
To create a custom definition for optional hyphenation
1
Click
Text Insert Formatting Code Custom Optional Hyphens.
2
In the
Word box, type the word for which you want to create the hyphenation definition.
When you type in the
Word box, the same text is entered in the
Hyphenated word box.
3
In the
Hyphenated Word box, click where you want the optional hyphen inserted, and press the
Hyphen key (-).
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Create a custom hyphen definition for a specific language keyboard |
Enable the Show all languages check box, and choose a language option from the Language list box. |
Automatically insert custom optional hyphens when typing |
Enable the When typing check box. |
Automatically insert custom optional hyphens when typing, pasting, or importing text |
Enable the When pasting and importing text check box. |
Delete a custom optional hyphen definition |
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The custom hyphenation definition is defined only for the language specified in the Language list box. You can choose another language without affecting your keyboard.
You can create a custom optional hyphen definition by selecting a word in the document. The word appears in the Word box of the Custom optional hyphens dialog box. After you insert the optional hyphen in the Hyphenated word box, you can apply it by clicking Apply to Selection.
You can find and replace optional hyphens. For more information, see To find text and To find and replace text.