Checking for punctuation. (Word 2000)

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When my documents are checked for grammar, why are they not recognizing that punctuation doesn’t exist at the end of a sentence? Is there a setting that I’m missing?

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I am using Word 2003 and these settings are contained in Tools>Options>Spelling & Grammar>Grammar Settings. I would assume that W2000 is similar. Remember however that the Grammar Checker is not foolproof – it will often suggest “corrections” that make absolutely no sense.

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Attached is a screen shot of this dialog box. I’m fairly proficient in word, but feel like I’m missing some setting. Do I have some setting incorrect?

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Attached is a screen shot of this dialog box. I’m fairly proficient in word, but feel like I’m missing some setting. Do I have some setting incorrect?

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You are correct as far as you’ve gone, but now click on the “Settings” button in the Grammar section.

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I’m with you… I have the punctuation box checked… see attached.

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OK then. Does the grammar checker miss punctuation in ALL documents, or just some?

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OK then. Does the grammar checker miss punctuation in ALL documents, or just some?

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I have Word 2000, although I never use the grammer checker. I just tried it & it didn’t check end of sentence punctuation on my copy either. All it did was offer to change the capitalization of the first word of each sentence to lowercase. So now I have one sentence where a brown fox jumps over a dog 15 times. That’s why I dislike the grammer checker.

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Just checked the same thing in Word 2003 with exactly the same results. It offered to “correct” the capitalization but did not offer to insert a period. I have the grammar checker turned off by default.

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Just checked the same thing in Word 2003 with exactly the same results. It offered to “correct” the capitalization but did not offer to insert a period. I have the grammar checker turned off by default.

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I have Word 2000, although I never use the grammer checker. I just tried it & it didn’t check end of sentence punctuation on my copy either. All it did was offer to change the capitalization of the first word of each sentence to lowercase. So now I have one sentence where a brown fox jumps over a dog 15 times. That’s why I dislike the grammer checker.

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I’m with you… I have the punctuation box checked… see attached.

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You are correct as far as you’ve gone, but now click on the “Settings” button in the Grammar section.

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I am using Word 2003 and these settings are contained in Tools>Options>Spelling & Grammar>Grammar Settings. I would assume that W2000 is similar. Remember however that the Grammar Checker is not foolproof – it will often suggest “corrections” that make absolutely no sense.

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The brain, accompanied by a handbook, is the best grammar checker there is. See, for example, this and this (scroll down to Grammar Checkers), and this, among numerous others. Or ask someone who knows, including any number of grammar hotlines that can be contacted via email or phone (“Grammar Hotline” in Google will bring up numerous possibilities.)

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If you type in the following:
Do you want to go to lunch. Now that we have gone outside, we are ok
It will offer to change the period to a question mark… but not place a period at the end of the sentence.

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Agreed, ideally we would be perfect and we wouldn’t need our spell checkers. Reality is that I’m a Technical Writer and daily deal with documents that are being rearranged, cut, pasted and edited… A document that started out with correct punctuations has now turned ugly. It would just be ideal if the spell check caught situations like this, so that when reality hits and I’m doing the boss’ updates to documentation 30 min before he needs them…. I’d have that extra set of spell check eyes double checking as I go. – Jody

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There’s a classic example of the limitations of spell checkers in a poem that’s been around for years:

“I have a spelling checker
I disk covered four my PC.
It plane lee marks four my revue
Miss steaks aye can knot sea.
Eye ran this poem threw it.
Your sure real glad two no.
Its very polished in its weigh,
My checker tolled me sew.

A checker is a blessing.
It freeze yew lodes of thyme.
It helps me right awl stiles two reed,
And aides me when aye rime.

Each frays come posed up on my screen
Eye trussed too bee a joule.
The checker pours o’er every word
To cheque sum spelling rule.

Bee fore wee rote with checkers,
Hour spelling was inn deck line,
Butt now when wee dew have a laps,
Wee are not maid too wine.

And now bee cause my spelling
Is checked with such grate flare,
There are know faults in awl this peace,
Of nun eye am a wear.

To rite with care is quite a feet
Of witch won should be proud,
And wee mussed dew the best wee can,
Sew flaws are knot aloud.

That’s why eye brake in two averse
Cuz Eye dew sew want too please.
Sow glad eye yam that aye did bye
This soft wear four pea seas.”

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There’s a classic example of the limitations of spell checkers in a poem that’s been around for years:

“I have a spelling checker
I disk covered four my PC.
It plane lee marks four my revue
Miss steaks aye can knot sea.
Eye ran this poem threw it.
Your sure real glad two no.
Its very polished in its weigh,
My checker tolled me sew.

A checker is a blessing.
It freeze yew lodes of thyme.
It helps me right awl stiles two reed,
And aides me when aye rime.

Each frays come posed up on my screen
Eye trussed too bee a joule.
The checker pours o’er every word
To cheque sum spelling rule.

Bee fore wee rote with checkers,
Hour spelling was inn deck line,
Butt now when wee dew have a laps,
Wee are not maid too wine.

And now bee cause my spelling
Is checked with such grate flare,
There are know faults in awl this peace,
Of nun eye am a wear.

To rite with care is quite a feet
Of witch won should be proud,
And wee mussed dew the best wee can,
Sew flaws are knot aloud.

That’s why eye brake in two averse
Cuz Eye dew sew want too please.
Sow glad eye yam that aye did bye
This soft wear four pea seas.”

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Agreed, ideally we would be perfect and we wouldn’t need our spell checkers. Reality is that I’m a Technical Writer and daily deal with documents that are being rearranged, cut, pasted and edited… A document that started out with correct punctuations has now turned ugly. It would just be ideal if the spell check caught situations like this, so that when reality hits and I’m doing the boss’ updates to documentation 30 min before he needs them…. I’d have that extra set of spell check eyes double checking as I go. – Jody

Reply | Quote

The brain, accompanied by a handbook, is the best grammar checker there is. See, for example, this and this (scroll down to Grammar Checkers), and this, among numerous others. Or ask someone who knows, including any number of grammar hotlines that can be contacted via email or phone (“Grammar Hotline” in Google will bring up numerous possibilities.)

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Word is not that smart. It doesn’t know where a sentences ends without you putting in some punctuation, although it might point out a “run-on” sentence and tip you off that way.

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There’s a good chance that the final thing in a paragraph is the end of a sentence though!

StuartR

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There’s a good chance that the final thing in a paragraph is the end of a sentence though!

StuartR

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Word is not that smart. It doesn’t know where a sentences ends without you putting in some punctuation, although it might point out a “run-on” sentence and tip you off that way.

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