Dot leaders extending to a second line

[Maureen Sanders]

In my table of contents, several dot leaders for my headings are extending to a second line with no new heading i.e. the two lines are all part of the same heading. In the attached screen shot the examples are Emigration plans and Holidays. In one instance the page number changes for the second dotted line and in the other the page number doesn't change. How do I get rid of the second dotted line? Thanks!

Screen Shot 2023-06-19 at 5.12.28 PM.png

[Charles Kenyon]

Ctrl-click in the blank lines in your TOC. Does it take you to a blank line in the document?


I suspect that someone may have used the enter key to space.

[Maureen Sanders]

Thanks so much, that was indeed the problem, although it was hard to see exactly what to remove (some had several of those enter key thingies). But I now have a passable TOC. Thanks again, much appreciated
Maureen

[kilroyscarnival]

Always good to look at your document as you go with the navigation pane showing (checkbox on the View ribbon). Those extra paragraph returns that have heading Styles on them will show up there as blank lines. It also clues me in to where someone may have applied Level 1/Heading 1 styles where they meant 2, etc.

[Charles Kenyon]

Originally Posted by Maureen Sanders

Thanks so much, that was indeed the problem, although it was hard to see exactly what to remove (some had several of those enter key thingies). But I now have a passable TOC. Thanks again, much appreciated
Maureen

You are welcome.
The Enter key thingies are called paragraph marks or pilcrows.


To save time using Word and avoid headaches, I strongly recommend a review of:
Basic Concepts of Microsoft Word - from Shauna Kelly

[Maureen Sanders]

Thanks folks, much appreciated. The problem is you need a PhD in Word to be able to use it properly! And I just got an updated version that only adds to the figuring out problems. If it's not something you use on a daily basis (I'm retired, so don't use for work any longer) what you do learn doesn't stick very long!

I have one more question but will post it separately.

[Stefan Blom]

Avoid blank paragraphs. See Charles's reply.

If you do choose to have some blank paragraphs, make sure that they are not formatted in a heading style.