WD: Grammar Checker Ignores Text

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 6.0

SYMPTOMS

In Word, the Grammar checker may ignore text formatted in superscript, subscript, or capital letters. It may also ignore hidden text. When the Grammar checker finishes checking a document or selection formatted entirely with one or a combination of the formats mentioned above, the Document Statistics report will show zeros for all statistics under Readability.

CAUSE

The Grammar checker ignores capitalized text by design. It interprets it as non-grammatical and does not produce Readability statistics for it. Also, the Grammar checker will ignore hidden text if the preference for showing hidden text is not selected.

The Grammar checker incorrectly ignores superscripted and subscripted text. Microsoft has confirmed this to be problem with the Word version 5.0. This problem was corrected in Word for the Macintosh version 6.0.

WORKAROUND

To use the Grammar tool to check grammar for text formatted entirely in capital letters, follow these steps:

1. Select the capitalized text.

2. From the Format menu, choose Change Case.

3. Select the Lowercase or Sentence Case option and choose the OK button.

4. From the Tools menu, choose Grammar.

5. After checking the grammar, reselect the text.

6. From the Format menu, choose Change Case.

7. Select the Uppercase option, and choose the OK button.

1. From the Tools menu, choose Preferences.

2. Select the View category.

3. Under Show, select the Hidden Text check box.

MORE INFORMATION

The Grammar Plug-in Module (PIM) ignores capital letters for text formatted in the following ways:

• Text was entered with the CAPS LOCK key pressed down.
• Text was formatted with the Change Case command.

RESOLUTION

"Microsoft Word User's Guide," version 5.0, pages 270-276