
Tip #4382 - What Grammar Rules Are You Using?
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What
Grammar Rules Are You Using?
Have you ever
found yourself wondering about the rules MS Word is using to make
its grammar recommendations when you check your documents?
Ever wish you
had a little peek into the madness behind it all?
Wish you could
tell Word to stop checking a few things that just drive you crazy?
If any of this
sounds familiar, read on to take a look into the grammar rules used
to check your documents.
In older
versions of Word, you need to start with the Tools
menu, Spelling and Grammar choice.
At the bottom
of the Spelling and Grammar window, click the Options button.

This will take
you to the Spelling and Grammar tab.

In Word 2007,
you can get there directly through the Office Button,
Word Options button, Proofing choice.

Once there, you
can select and deselect a variety of options. One to pay attention
to is the Writing Style choice.
Using the drop
down list, you can choose to have Word check either the "Grammar
Only" or "Grammar & Style."
Interested in what the
specific differences are between the two choices?
No problem!
Click the Settings
button.
The Grammar Settings
window will open, displaying the choices for Grammar checks.

When you select
"Grammar Only," you only get the grammar
portion of the list. In contrast, the "Grammar &
Style" choice will have items from both parts of the
list selected. (Notice that you can toggle between the two Writing
Style choices at the top of the window, allowing you to easily compare
the two).
Scroll through the list.
You're free to check or
uncheck items as you see fit.
When you're done,
click OK and then OK again. (If
you're in an older version of Word, you'll also have to close the
Spelling and Grammar window).
That's it! You
now know where to find Word's control over the Grammar check. It looks
like it's time to customize and make it your own!
~ April
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