-----Original Message-----
It used to be an underscore, but suddenly it changed to an
(annoying) small
vertical bar, perhaps by my accidentally hitting some key.
.

This is a Windows issue, not Word. Since you didn't state
which version of Windows that you're are using, I'll give
you the XP answer: StartControl Panel Double click on
Mouse. Click on the Pointers tab and change the Scheme to
your liking. Having worked on hundreds of computer club
members over the past years, I haven't seen the underscore
since DOS.