Removing extra spaces [Problem Resolved}

E.L. Lynch · May 30, 2013

Does anyone know the "find and replace" code for removing extra spaces at the end of a paragraph?

alleycat · May 30, 2013

I assume you are using Word. Which version?

alleycat · May 30, 2013

Well, since you've left . . .

Here a guide to what most, if not all, of the wildcats do: http://www.gmayor.com/replace_using_wildcards.htm

I was going to try to simplify it for you. In any event, I think you want to use:

Go to Find and Replace, select the More option, click the Allow Wildcats option.

In the Find box: put in a space, then put in:{1,}^13
In the Replace box:^p

You might want to test this on a copy of your file first.

rainsmom · May 30, 2013

Couldn't you just search for a space and a paragraph mark (^p) and replace with only a paragraph mark?

alleycat · May 30, 2013

rainsmom said:
Couldn't you just search for a space and a paragraph mark (^p) and replace with only a paragraph mark?

I think that would only get those occurrences where there is only one space at the end of the paragraph, but I'm not sure offhand. It's been a while since I've needed to do something like this (I use styles). It might be worth a try to the OP.

E.L. Lynch · May 30, 2013

Neither of those ways are working. I tried Alleycat's, and it said it made 42 replacements but the two spaces are still there after each paragraph.

It seems like when I had to format a manuscript for an e-publisher, they had us use Rainsmom's method, but that isn't working either.

Thanks to both of you all the same. I guess I'll keep piddlin' with it and see if I can get it to work.

ResearchGuy · May 30, 2013

E.L. Lynch said:
Does anyone know the "find and replace" code for removing extra spaces at the end of a paragraph?

Do you mean spaces? Or blank lines? The latter is a bit more complicated for a couple of reasons that would be too tiresome to explain here.

--Ken

veinglory · May 30, 2013

Okay so you actually need the code for hard returns, replacing any instance of two in a row (¶¶) with just one (¶).

alleycat · May 30, 2013

Ah, you mean extra line spaces after a paragraph. I misunderstood.

ResearchGuy · May 30, 2013

veinglory said:
Okay so you actually need the code for hard returns, replacing any instance of two in a row (¶¶) with just one (¶).

Spaces and/or tabs after paragraph returns make that more complicated. Not to mention what might lurk in paragraph styles. I always have to turn on display of all formatting marks in order to figure out what is in the file and how to fix it.

(Line breaks, ^l, also complicate many amateurs' files I've had to fix.)

--Ken

E.L. Lynch · May 30, 2013

veinglory said:
Okay so you actually need the code for hard returns, replacing any instance of two in a row (¶¶) with just one (¶).

Yeah, that's what I'm trying to do so that the cursor is flush with the period after all paragraph breaks.

E.L. Lynch · May 30, 2013

ResearchGuy said:
Spaces and/or tabs after paragraph returns make that more complicated. Not to mention what might lurk in paragraph styles. I always have to turn on display of all formatting marks in order to figure out what is in the file and how to fix it.

(Line breaks, ^l, also complicate many amateurs' files I've had to fix.)

--Ken

Actually, it's not hard at all; I just can't remember the code. Musa used to have a tutorial for their authors on YT that walked us through all this.

It was as simple as putting the code in the "find" field and a different code in "replace."

But as I said, I can't recall the code and can't seem to find it anywhere online.

veinglory · May 30, 2013

The code, at least for me, is the widget I showed in parath.

E.L. Lynch · May 30, 2013

veinglory said:
The code, at least for me, is the widget I showed in parath.

When I pulled down the special characters from the F&R option, I found the widget you listed, but when I selected this option it loaded "^p." I put two of those codes in F and one in R. It came back saying 2 changes were made, but as I have a lot more paragraphs with two spaces at the end of a paragraph, I'm not sure what changes are being made. All those extra spaces are still there.

E.L. Lynch · May 30, 2013

Okay, I finally figured it out. In the F box, I needed to put two spaces before the ^p, and in the R box no spaces before the ^p. I then had to run it again with only one space before the ^p in the F box.

Thanks everyone who took the time to offer suggestions.

ResearchGuy · May 30, 2013

E.L. Lynch said:
. . .It was as simple as putting the code in the "find" field and a different code in "replace." . . . .

Only if there is just one consistent issue. Where there are multiple issues (and I encounter that in files I get for formatting or editing) it is more complicated.

Good that it was simple for you.

--Ken

Torgo · May 30, 2013

I would just search for " " and replace with " " - then run that a few times until it stops finding stuff. That'll reduce any multiple spaces down to single spaces (you shouldn't ever need more than a single space.)

I then tend to do a few "^p^p^p" finds and replace all with "^p^p" - to reduce any extra lines between paragraphs to single lines.

alleycat · May 30, 2013

E.L. Lynch said:
Okay, I finally figured it out. In the F box, I needed to put two spaces before the ^p, and in the R box no spaces before the ^p. I then had to run it again with only one space before the ^p in the F box.

Were you putting in a space in the Replace box when you tried the earlier suggestions?

Ken · May 30, 2013

alleycat said:
You might want to test this on a copy of your file first.

... or use the "reading highlight" in the find/replace dialogue box to view what is found first. Highlights in yellow. (Just do the find first and if that's satisfactory move on to include replace.) (Word 2010)

E.L. Lynch · May 30, 2013

alleycat said:
Were you putting in a space in the Replace box when you tried the earlier suggestions?

I really can't say for sure, but maybe I did, as I don't know why it wasn't working before.

Removing extra spaces [Problem Resolved}

E.L. Lynch

alleycat

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alleycat

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rainsmom

Feeling like an old timer

alleycat

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E.L. Lynch

ResearchGuy

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veinglory

volitare nequeo

alleycat

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E.L. Lynch

E.L. Lynch

veinglory

volitare nequeo

E.L. Lynch

E.L. Lynch

ResearchGuy

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Torgo

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alleycat

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Ken

E.L. Lynch