How to Remove Line Breaks in Word
Use Word's Find and Replace feature to replace manual line breaks with spaces or paragraph marks. First identify the mark you actually have so page layout and real paragraphs are not damaged.
Written and checked by TheToolNet Editorial Team · Last reviewed: October 10, 2026 · Editorial method
The first code ends with a lowercase letter L, not the number 1.
Remove manual line breaks with Find and Replace
- Save a copy of the document before a bulk replacement.
- On the Home tab, turn on Show/Hide ¶ so formatting marks are visible.
- Press Ctrl+H in desktop Word to open Find and Replace.
- In Find what, type
^lfor a manual line break. You can also choose More → Special → Manual Line Break. - In Replace with, enter one space to join wrapped text, or enter
^pto convert each manual break to a paragraph. - Select Find Next, then Replace on a few examples. Use Replace All only after confirming the result.
Word for the web is more limited. Microsoft directs users to desktop Word for advanced special-character replacement.
Choose the correct Word mark
| Visible structure | Meaning | Find code |
|---|---|---|
| Bent arrow after Shift+Enter | Manual line break inside a paragraph | ^l or ^11 |
| Paragraph symbol ¶ after Enter | Paragraph mark | ^p or ^13 |
| “Page Break” indicator | Manual page break | Use Word's Page Break selection or relevant Special item |
| Text merely wraps at the window edge | Automatic visual wrapping | Nothing to remove |
Remove extra paragraph breaks without joining everything
When empty paragraphs create unwanted gaps, search for two paragraph marks—^p^p—and replace them with one ^p. Repeat only if the document contains longer runs. Review headings, lists, tables, quotations, addresses, and intentionally spaced sections before applying the change globally.
When the online remover is faster
If the problem is plain text copied from a PDF or email, paste a copy into the online line break remover. Its paragraph-preserving mode joins single wrapped lines while keeping blank-line paragraph boundaries. It does not edit the Word file itself or preserve formatting.
Frequently asked questions
Why does ^p not find my breaks?
The document may contain manual line breaks created with Shift+Enter. Search for ^l and confirm the symbol with Show/Hide.
Can I replace line breaks with commas?
Yes. Find ^l and enter a comma plus a space in Replace with. Check lists and addresses before replacing all.
Can automatic page breaks be deleted?
No. Word creates automatic page breaks as text flows. You can change paragraph pagination settings, margins, or layout; manual page breaks can be selected and deleted.