Cannot locate the internet server or proxy server

I am using MacOS Mohave 10.14, Safari 12.0, and MS Office for Mac 2011 14.7.7. When paste a website link into MS Word or MS Excel, then try the link, I get this message: "Cannot locate the internet server or proxy server". However if I copy this link from Excel and paste back into my browser, it connects to the website. YouTube links always work but any other place on the internet gives me this message. I see this inquiry on this Apple Community but see no remedy offered. Any fix would be appreciated.

Dave