Articles on: The editor

Using soft-hyphens in texts

A soft hyphen is an invisible character that marks where a word may break if it doesn't fit on the line. When the word breaks there, a hyphen appears; when the word fits, nothing is visible. You add soft hyphens to Heading, Text and Table elements in the editor with the Add hyphen button.


Maglr doesn't hyphenate words automatically in text elements, because browsers often break words in odd places and designers usually want full control over where a word breaks.


A line break you add with Enter (a hard return) is not a good alternative. That break is fixed, so it also appears where the word would have fit, including on mobile. A soft hyphen only breaks the word when it doesn't fit.


Adding a soft hyphen


To add a soft hyphen to a word in a Heading, Text or Table element:


  1. Double-click the element on the canvas to edit its text.
  2. Click inside the word at the point where it may break. Don't select any text.
  3. In the right panel, click Add hyphen, below the Show hidden characters checkbox.


A small "SHY" marker appears at that point in the text, and Show hidden characters switches on. The editor calls this character an "Optional hyphen". On the published page, the word breaks there with a hyphen only when it doesn't fit on the line.



Showing and removing soft hyphens


Soft hyphens are invisible in the editor unless Show hidden characters is on. To see them, tick Show hidden characters in the right panel while you edit a Heading, Text or Table element. Each soft hyphen then shows as a small "SHY" marker. Your browser remembers this setting for all text elements.


To remove a soft hyphen while you edit the text, do one of the following:


  • Click its "SHY" marker.
  • Place the cursor directly before or after the soft hyphen, and click Add hyphen.


Other line-break characters


While you edit a Heading, Text or Table element with Show hidden characters ticked, two more buttons appear in the same row as Add hyphen:


  • Add zero-width space: adds an invisible break point where the line may wrap without a hyphen.
  • Add non-breaking space: adds a space that keeps the words on both sides together on one line.


Frequently asked questions


Why is the Add hyphen button greyed out?


The Add hyphen button in the editor's right panel only works when the cursor is placed in the text and no text is selected. If you have selected text, click once inside the word where it may break to place the cursor, then click Add hyphen.


Is a soft hyphen visible on the published page when the word fits?


No. A soft hyphen is invisible when the word fits on the line. Only when the word doesn't fit does it break at the soft hyphen, with a hyphen shown at the end of the line.

Updated on: 20/10/2026