"Spacing before" is suppressed at the top of the page, assuming that the paragraph doesn't appear at the beginning of a new document or at the beginning of a new section. If the style also includes "Page break before" formatting, the spacing won't be suppressed.

The compatibility option "Suppress Space Before after a hard page or column break" (I'm assuming that's the one you are referring to) controls what happens when there is a manual page or column break present.



When a paragraph with "Spacing after" precedes a paragraph with "Spacing before," the larger of the two values will determine the spacing between the paragraphs.

If you select the "Don't use HTML paragraph auto spacing" compatibility option the two values for spacing will be added instead.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

I'm not clear if this can be changed, from this answer.

I'm working with a designer to create a template for a client that has a Style with a 15 before and 15 after spacing. At the top of the next page the 15 before is null, even when a page break or section break is inserted on the previous page (prefer not to have either, but looking for a fix!). The only way I've been able to reinstate the 15 pt spacing is to enter a hard return, but then the opposite problem occurs - too much spacing at top of page.

Is there a way to un-suppress this autoformat? I've been all over formatting/auto formatting windows and can't find a fix (Word 2007).

Any help appreciated. I consider myself experienced in Word (15 years), until something like this happens.

Thanks,
Maureen

After manual page and column breaks, you can suppress the spacing before by selecting "Suppress Space Before after a hard page or column break." You'll find this option in the Advanced section of Office button | Word Options; just click to expand the "Layout" options.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional