MS Word Utilities for Writers

Roger J Carlson · Apr 27, 2005

I have been given permission by Jenna, our kind and generous hostess, to post this on multiple boards. I hope you don't mind.

I've written several little programs in Microsoft Word to do some things that Word does not do:

Word Frequency Counter:
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11152

This program counts all instances of each word in a document. This can be useful to determine if you are using some words too frequently. In addition, it also tracks the shortest distance (in words) between any two instances of a word. (For instance, "I said that he said" would return 3. This can help determine if you are using words in too close proximity.

Phrase Frequency Counter:
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11380

This program is similar to the Word Frequency Counter, but it counts only those phrases you specify. If you have a tendancy to use cliches or over-worked phrases, this can help identify them.

Passive Word Highlighter:
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11330

This program goes through an entire document and changes the color of passive, boring, or cliche words and phrases. For instance, it will replace every instance of "was" with "was" (formatted in red). You control which words it checks for and the color it assigns.

I originally posted these in the Writing Novels board, but I thought they might be useful to others as well. The links above connect to those discussions if you want to read more about them.

These programs are entirely free and you can download them from my website, here:

http://www.rogerjcarlson.com/WritingHelp/TechTips.html

I hope you find them useful. I would be glad for any comments or suggestions. I'd particularly like to know if you have any problems.

BTW, all of the programs work externally, that is they open a separate document file and work on that. I am currently working on a Master Suite of utilities that you can import into Word itself and use on your currently active document. I'll let you know when it's ready.

DaveKuzminski · Aug 1, 2005

Sorry, but I can't resist this cute poke at MS Word: http://www.geocities.com/haxrus/file004.gif

Ray Dillon · Sep 12, 2005

Wow. Do these work for Macs?

Roger J Carlson · Sep 13, 2005

Ray Dillon said:
Wow. Do these work for Macs?

I don't know. Since I don't have a Mac, I can't test it. However, you MUST have MS Word for the Mac for it to even have a chance. I'd love to know!

Ray Dillon · Sep 13, 2005

Roger J Carlson said:
I don't know. Since I don't have a Mac, I can't test it. However, you MUST have MS Word for the Mac for it to even have a chance. I'd love to know!

Yep. I've got Word. Wouldn't want to screw up my computer or something by trying to install it without knowing.

I'll try to get a friend to give it a try.

Roger J Carlson · Sep 13, 2005

Ray Dillon said:
Yep. I've got Word. Wouldn't want to screw up my computer or something by trying to install it without knowing.

I'll try to get a friend to give it a try.

The utilities aren't programs that you install. The code is embedded in Word documents. You only need to open the document and push the button.

Now that I think about it, the code that opens a window for you to select a file from the file system is Windows specific (use a Windows API call) so unless you are using a Windows emulator, it will not work.

Sorry.

Ray Dillon · Sep 13, 2005

Drat! Well, thanks, anyway. Sounds like they are very handy.

Phouka · Apr 24, 2006

Does anyone have a 'standard manuscript formatter'? I've seen templates for AMA style, and APA style and a dozen others...is there a similiar word template for a Perfect Submittable Manuscript? (with the right margins, font, headers, titles, etc.?)

Probably not something you'd write with, but something you'd apply after the fact?

If not, I'll volunteer to put one together, but I don't want to reinvent the wheel.

Etola · Sep 10, 2006

Phouka said:
Does anyone have a 'standard manuscript formatter'? I've seen templates for AMA style, and APA style and a dozen others...is there a similiar word template for a Perfect Submittable Manuscript? (with the right margins, font, headers, titles, etc.?)

Probably not something you'd write with, but something you'd apply after the fact?

If not, I'll volunteer to put one together, but I don't want to reinvent the wheel.

A long time ago I tried to create a Word template for manuscripts, something that would convert an MS to 12-point courier double-spaced, but I haven't been able to figure out how Templates actually worked. But in theory, templates should be the thing you'll want to look at.

If anyone knows how to do this, please fill me in!

WishWords · Oct 9, 2006

Etola said:
A long time ago I tried to create a Word template for manuscripts, something that would convert an MS to 12-point courier double-spaced, but I haven't been able to figure out how Templates actually worked. But in theory, templates should be the thing you'll want to look at.

If anyone knows how to do this, please fill me in!

Oh, you just type up the document with the font and spacing you want, then "Save As" and choose "Template" instead "Document". When you want to use it you go to "File", "New" and over on the right hand side you should be able to choose a template from your computer.

Matera the Mad · Jan 17, 2008

Fuh. Select all, format paragraph, bang.

Word is fine for formatting for print, but I refuse to drive myself crazy(er) and blind(er) by trying to write in it! However, it's nice to know that those who do can now have some of the benefits I enjoy with a decent text editor.

Michael Parks · Mar 19, 2008

I use the following Word macro to display readability statistics:

Code:

Sub Stats()
'
' Stats Macro
'
'
Dim DocStats As String
Dim MBTitle As String
Dim J As Integer
MBTitle = "Readability Statistics"
DocStats = ""
With ActiveDocument.Content
For J = 1 To 10
DocStats = DocStats & .ReadabilityStatistics(J)
DocStats = DocStats & ": "
DocStats = DocStats & .ReadabilityStatistics(J).Value
DocStats = DocStats & vbCrLf
Next J
End With
MsgBox DocStats, vbOKOnly, MBTitle
End Sub

It produces a popup with this information:

Michael Parks · Mar 21, 2008

Not a Word utility, but.... I just made a free tool for posting your stories here easier (indented, line spaced paragraphs, font selection, etc). Copy from Word into this, and it puts the formatted story on your clipboard for pasting to the forum.

Mr Flibble · Mar 21, 2008

Michael Parks said:

I use the following Word macro to display readability statistics:

Code:

Sub Stats()
'
' Stats Macro
'
'
Dim DocStats As String
Dim MBTitle As String
Dim J As Integer
MBTitle = "Readability Statistics"
DocStats = ""
With ActiveDocument.Content
For J = 1 To 10
DocStats = DocStats & .ReadabilityStatistics(J)
DocStats = DocStats & ": "
DocStats = DocStats & .ReadabilityStatistics(J).Value
DocStats = DocStats & vbCrLf
Next J
End With
MsgBox DocStats, vbOKOnly, MBTitle
End Sub

It produces a popup with this information:

It seems to be at odds with my MS word count - like 40K out ( about 33%) :Shrug:

para count is out by well over 1k

Actually all the figures are out. ie sentences per para x paras is not equaling sentences

Michael Parks · Mar 23, 2008

Gads! Truth be told, I'd never used it for anything but the Flesch-Kincaid stats... and now I wonder if those are accurate. :/

Mr Flibble · Mar 23, 2008

I'm only concerned becasue I have to edit to a certain length. Word says I have twenty thousand more words to cut -- yours says I've cut twenty thousand too much.

*gibber*

Triomferus · May 15, 2008

These seem to work fine in Word 2007

, thank you!

Rena Andra · Jul 11, 2008

Very interesting. How about Works 8.5. It won't 'keep paragraph with next'. I'm used to works 4, and that old crud did this without any raised eyebrows. What can I get that will do this, and not unformat everytime it's closed?
RA

MS Word Utilities for Writers

Roger J Carlson

Moderator In Name Only

DaveKuzminski

Preditors & Editors

Ray Dillon

Artist & Writer

Roger J Carlson

Moderator In Name Only

Ray Dillon

Artist & Writer

Roger J Carlson

Moderator In Name Only

Ray Dillon

Artist & Writer

Phouka

Etola

Still looking for stars...

WishWords

Matera the Mad

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

Michael Parks

In the moment

Michael Parks

In the moment

Mr Flibble

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

Michael Parks

In the moment

Mr Flibble

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

Triomferus

Lightbringer

Rena Andra