There's a better way

The only people who should be using this type of format where you pre-populate a bazillion pages with never-ending Q/A are folks who don't have a text expander. And certainly not because it's a "right" or "wrong" thing. But those of us in the text expander universe have access to a much more efficient method of doing this! So click your heels and read on. :)

Instead of arrowing down to pre-existing Q/A, create a series of entries that look like this (for now*). Note that my "Q" series entries are always going to be k-centric because my eye-brain-finger connection HATES reaching for the Q, and it always feels like a road bump or a pothole LOL. So I use k for, basically, all my "q-ish" shortcuts, even words, such as ...

akr = acquire
akrd = acquired
akn = acquisition

... etc. So no surprise, all my Q shortcuts are going to be kk-something. :) But you do you, and if typing qq-something doesn't trip your fingers, go for it. I bow to you. :) So this is what your basic Q/A shortcuts will look like:

{Enter}[SOME FORMAT CODES]Q[SOME FORMAT CODES]{ResetTypingContext}{NoSpacing}

You will replace [SOME FORMAT CODES] with whatever formatting commands you need for your template. For example, most of my Q/A templates use {Tab}Q{Tab}{NoSpacing}. But some use a hanging indent, which in WP is {Ctrl Shift Alt F7}. The {ResetTypingContext} command ensures that you'll be able to type and expand a new short if need be once you start the new dashed line (since you don't have spaces after your dashes).

So you'll have two basic codes for your "main entries." I use kk (or you could use qq) and aa. Make sure they are "on top" so you never have to pause to select the correct one in the advisory. These trump everything else in that shortcut zip code as to hierarchical importance. :)

Now, for your dashes, you will add two more Q&A entries - kkd (or qqd) and aad, and likewise, make sure they are "on top" as well. Instead of typing these entries from scratch, you will copy your main kk/qq and aa entries and simply add a dash at the end. In your case, since it appears your dashes have no space before or after the "--," be sure to add the {NoSpacing} command at the end.

Now, when you're ready for another Q or A line, on the last line of the previous dialogue, just type your short (kk or qq or aa or whatever you assigned to it), or if you need to begin with a dash, type kkd or qqd or aad or whatever you called it, as applicable. Voila!

You can also do the same thing for your speakers. For all of my speakers - the "static ones" (e.g., TC=THE COURT:) as well as the job-specific ones (e.g., XJ = MR. JONES:), I have the "regular" entries and a copy of the regular entries with a "d" ending (e.g., tcd = THE COURT: --; xjd = MR. JONES: --). Also make sure these entries are on top if you have any other duplicate shortcuts in your advisory.

*Big emphasis on the "for now" part, because I am working on a series of tutorial vids to elaborate on the Snippets feature (in response to Marsha's post), which I'm sure you will find interesting and useful. I ran into a snag (1) keeping the vid(s) short and digestible and (2) trying to figure out what to cover in each vid. One turned into several, because so many of the features overlap in my world. :) Plus, they'll each require some additional documentation, so it's just taking a bit of time as I juggle work deadlines looming overhead. But they'll be coming, hopefully in a few days, and then I would bet dollars to donuts that you'll be tweaking your entries ... again (if you work for more than one entity and use different formats). :) But this should tide you over 'til then!

For your "non" and "non-" words and other similar prefixes (pre, post, pseudo, etc.), add the following two entries, including the suggested descriptions to make them easily identifiable in the advisory. And as above, make sure they're on top in the advisory for ease of use. These entries will select and "cut" (and trim extra space from) the word you just typed, add a "non" or "non-" in front, and paste the word back into your document.

nonaa (Description: Add "non" to word (no hyphen)
{Ctrl Shift Left}{CopySelection}{TrimClipboard}non{Paste}

nonhh (Description: Add "non-" to word)
{Ctrl Shift Left}{CopySelection}{TrimClipboard}non-{Paste}

Optionally, add a {NoSpacing} command at the end, depending on the behavior you want.

Rinse-and-repeat for all your desired prefix words.

Note that if you're doing this in WordPerfect and you don't want to end up with a lot of extraneous formatting codes, you'll want to create a shortcut for and use the Paste Unformatted Text command instead of {Paste}. If the codes don't bother you, then just leave the {Paste} command as is.

I hope this helps!

-Karen :)