How to prevent line break at hyphens in all browsers
Prevent text from breaking at hyphens using white-space: nowrap;
in CSS to make it appear on a single line:
Apply this style to your HTML element:
To dodgily dodge lengthy manual edits, dynamically replace ordinary hyphens with non-breaking variants in your content by employing some JavaScript or jQuery magic.
Cheat the system with Unicode
The non-breaking hyphen trick
Nothing screams "No breaks!" louder than a Unicode NON-BREAKING HYPHEN (U+2011). To make sure your hyphenated words soldier on without a midway hiccup across lines in any browser, replace standard hyphens with their Unicode non-breakable counterparts, ‑
or ‑
.
The unbroken vow of CSS white-space property
Pledge unbreakability with white-space: nowrap;
. This rule, daringly applied to individual elements or a class, ensures your words stick together. Just double-check browser compatibility, especially if you're dealing with the wild world of IE or Edge.
Jester JavaScript and jQuery
A large content body can be swiftly controlled with JavaScript or jQuery. These witty wizards can sneakily replace all instances of hyphens while you enjoy your cup of coffee.
The curious case of CKEditor & CMS
In the monstrous maze of CKEditor or any CMS, make certain that non-breaking hyphens aren’t traduced back to their ordinary counterparts. Investigate your editor's configuration and content sanitization rules.
Coding your way around exceptions
The word joiner character
The word joiner character (⁠
) can be your lifesaver in complex situations involving editable content.
The mysterious <nobr>
markup
Though it's a maverick in HTML and known to induce quirky browser behavior, <nobr>
can protect your hyphenated text like a protective shell around an armoured egg.
IE and its eccentricities
For the Internet Explorer pundits out there, buckle up! Your compatibility ride may need some extra effort, notably with older versions. Test your code judiciously across different IE versions.
Treating CMS like a teddy bear
Provide consistent formatting across your CMS by ensuring your content sanitization rules are airtight. This may involve some tweaks in your CMS backend or plugins.
Handling browser eccentricities
Cross-browser testing isn't just recommended, it's mandatory! Use platforms like BrowserStack or revert to good ol' manual testing on various devices.
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