Hash, when Word changes your hyphens into border lines, immediately press
Ctrl+Z (or click the Undo button on the Standard toolbar) to turn them back
into hyphens.

If you want to disable this feature altogether, it's Tools AutoCorrect
Options AutoFormat As You Type. Under Apply as you type, uncheck Border
Lines. OK. (This is in Word 2003; procedure is similar in earlier versions.)
--
DDM
"DDM's Microsoft Office Tips and Tricks"
Visit us at www.ddmcomputing.com


wrote in message news:jlaGd.17367$B95.4796@lakeread02...
All -

I was pasting some text from email very free form into a word document.
I was separating authors with 4 or 5 dashes (hyphens).

Word took my dashes and made them rule lines. I was appreciative, but
if I ever want a string of dashes, how do I turn that off?

...best, Hash