Remove style shortcuts in Libre Writer

While taking some notes during a Linux course using Libre Writer, I was attempting to make a list of common directories found in Linux distros. As I was making a list of things like /bin, /home, etc. I started to type a directory of /srv/www (for web server files) but as soon as I typed the second forward slash, none of the slashes showed and instead “srv” was italicized.

There are shortcuts you may use as you type to style the text as you go (instead of having to choose from a menu) and one of the shortcuts is to use a forward slash directly in front and back of a word that you wish to italicize. (You may create bold text by using an asterisk (*) before and after a word, underscores (_) to underline a word, etc.) Those are useful options to have but they were getting in the way of what I actually wanted to type.

What I’m referring to as style shortcuts is named as AutoCorrect tools in LibreOffice Writer. There are lots of options in this tool menu, but here’s a quick reference to turn off some of the features if you actually want to render symbols in your text rather than using them to quickly style your text:

  • Click on the Tools menu item
  • Choose AutoCorrect from the drop down menu, then AutoCorrect options from the submenu that appears.
  • In the new window, click on the Options tab and remove the checkmark beside “Automatic *bold*,/italic/,-strikeout- and _underline_”
  • Click Ok to save your changes.

There are LOTS of options in the AutoCorrect menu, so if you notice anything quirky with your typing you may want to check the selections here to see if a default “correction” option may be causing you grief.


Related or Cited Resources:

  • My search on “libreoffice removing slash and italicizing” resulted in this link where I found my solution: https://askubuntu.com/questions/1378063/how-do-i-stop-libreoffice-from-removing-forward-slashes-around-text-and-making-t

Switch from Windows to Linux

If you were a bit disgusted after Windows 11 came out, you may be considering a switch to Linux as your main operating system. For me, much of the distaste about Microsoft came from the fact that a company representative had stated that Windows 10 was to be the *last* Windows version and yet now we are told that updates (including security patches) will discontinue for that version after October 14, 2025.

The Linux operating system is a different animal from Windows and the thought of using it daily can seem like a daunting task if you are completely new to it; however, there are flavors (or distributions aka “distros”) of Linux that can ease the step into Linux waters.

The purpose of this article is not to cover Linux in depth, but to provide a suggestion of a Linux version that is thought to be a good fit for newbies, as well as a good video tutorial for installing and setting it up.

The version I’m suggesting is called Linux Mint. Even within Linux Mint, there are different options to try, but instead of getting too bogged down trying to decide, you may want to follow the video tutorial linked below and just see how you like it! Contact me if you have any questions. If there’s a lot of interest in trying Linux, I may post more articles about switching to Linux and we can all share our experiences and concerns.

The tutorial for installing and setting up Linux Mint comes from the
Chris Titus Tech YouTube channel: Windows 10 to Linux Mint


Related or Cited Resources:

  • Windows 10 to be retired in 2025 – Article from the BBC
  • https://linuxmint.com/ The official site for Linux Mint
  • The tutorial video linked in the article is a few years old and the Linux Mint downloads page looks a bit different today. If you want to download the LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition) like what is shown in the video, you may do so here.

Android and Google tips

If you use an android phone or anything Google, you will probably get a lot of good advice from JR Raphael’s Android Intelligence1 tips. He has a free email newsletter (link below) as well as a subscription model website forum that is very active. A lot of the great tips I find come from the AI newsletter or from his articles at ComputerWorld.

If you use the link below to sign up for the free newsletter (just try it out!), then I get a perk! Win win!

Free Android Intelligence newsletter sign up: https://www.androidintel.net/refer/?rh_ref=patricia96ff

For the subscription site, you may join here: Android Intelligence Platinum

Try the free newsletter and see if it’s something you might like to support in the Platinum site. You may continue with the free newsletter whatever you decide. (I don’t get any money from recommending these resources, but I may get access to a free course if you use my link above to sign up.)


1Android Intelligence is now part of a broader technology offering called The Intelligence which also includes news, tips, and tutorials about the Windows operating system as well as general tech agnostic advice.