The dots indicate the text is formatted as Hidden. To remove the
hidden formatting, press Ctrl+A to select all, and then click on
Format | Font | Font tab | uncheck the "Hidden" box | OK.

EyeToEyeOp wrote:

Sometimes when I open a new word document, there are little dots underneath
my text. They won't allow me to print preview (it still looks like a blank
document), or print at all. When I click on the paragraph markers on the
toolbars, the dotted text goes away along with the paragraph markers. How
can I get rid of this?