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Using bidirectional text

You can mix right-to-left text (such as Arabic or Hebrew) with left-to-right text (such as English). When you do so, the text is called bidirectional text.

The direction of text flow is determined automatically based on your computer’s language setting. In certain situations, such as when you need to insert some text that uses the opposite directionality or use characters that can be used in either direction (for example, spaces and punctuation), you can change the text direction so that the text appears as you want it to. You can change text direction for an entire paragraph or for only selected text.

To change the direction of text in a paragraph:

Choose Format > Text > Writing Direction, and then choose an option below Paragraph in the submenu:

Default: The content determines the appropriate text direction.

Left to Right: Flows text in the paragraph from left to right.

Right to Left: Flows text in the paragraph from right to left.

To change the direction of selected text:

Choose Format > Text > Writing Direction, and then choose an option below Selection in the submenu:

Default: The paragraph setting is used.

Left to Right: Flows selected text from left to right.

Right to Left: Flows selected text from right to left.

To use other techniques to manage bidirectional text:

  1. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Language & Text, and then click Input Sources.

  2. Use the options below Bidirectional Text.

    Click the Help button to learn more about the options.

    If you don’t see the options, in the Input Sources pane turn on an input source with a right-to-left writing system.

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