MS Word formatting problem

A writer friend of mine called with a really annoying ms word problem.

This writer uses asterisks between some paragraphs to indicate a passage of time. In ms word, when you type a string of asterisks and then hit enter, a line of black boxes appear instead of the asterisks, and they go completely across a line.

Does anyone know how to disable this feature? It drives this poor woman crazy and I have not been able to find out how it happens in "help ".

Thanks so much for your help.

 

Thank you so much ... that was it!!!!!!!!

 

Another way.
Alt+Backspace after it is changed.

 

Thanks again.