Returns/Tabs/Formatting In MS Word

[Maxi2011]

I'm sure this has a stupidly simple answer but my experience with MS is that the simplier something SHOULD be, the more difficult it actually is and this is no exception.....

For some reason (totally randomly - clicked nothing!) MS Word (2000) has started to show all the returns, tabs, spaces etc i make. So for example, a space now results in a dot showing between the words, a return/enter now results in the P-shaped symbol showing up on empty lines, I have arrows between my bullet points and heaven knows what else it's decided to show me for no reason at all.

I am pretty sure there is an option SOMEWHERE to just turn it showing all of that stuff off. But million dollar question - WHERE? I have searched high and low and of course the helpfiles are about as helpful as a bag of salt in the ocean.

Can someone please, please tell me how to turn this thing off?

Thanks

Maxi2011

[Rob Pomeroy]

Tools-->Options-->View.  Under "Formatting marks", uncheck "All".  

[soybean]

Or, click on the Show/Hide button on Word's Standard toolbar.  It looks like a paragraph symbol.  

[Maxi2011]

Thank you both so much! You have saved me much frustration!

I appriaciate your time