last updated: 1/29/2025
This is an index of the macros and topics covered in the newsletter. Some macros may appear in more than one category. Don’t miss the tips and troubleshooting sections at the end. If there is a macro you’d like to see covered in the newsletter, please message me at jennifer@wordcollaborative.com.
Capitalization
CapperMax: applies headline-style capitalization
CapperMin: applies sentence-case capitalization
CaseNextChar: changes the capitalization of the word to the right of the cursor
CaseThisWord: changes the capitalization of the current word (where the cursor is standing)
Consistency Checking
AcronymAlyse: generates a list of all acronyms in a document and their frequency
CitationAlyse: cross-checks the reference list against the in-text citations and flags potential inconsistencies
CountPhrase: tells you how frequently a word or term appears in a document
HighlightWordList: highlights a list of words in a document to draw your attention as you are editing
HyphenAlyse: identifies potential hyphenation inconsistencies
HyphenSpaceWordCount: tells you how often a word pair is written as one word, two words, and hyphenated
MatchDoubleQuotes: flags unpaired double quotation marks
MatchSingleQuotes: flags unpaired single quotation marks (but not apostrophes)
ProperNounAlyse: identifies potential inconsistencies among proper nouns
Deleting
DeleteOneWord: deletes the word in which the cursor is standing
DeleteRestOfSentence: deletes text from the end of the current word to the end of the sentence, keeping the sentence-ending punctuation
ParensContentDelete: Deletes parentheses and the content inside
ParenthesesEtcPairDelete: deletes pairs of punctuation marks (quote marks, parenthesis, commas, etc.)
PunctuationOff: deletes the next punctuation mark to the right of the cursor
Fact-Checking
[Dictionary]Fetch: searches an online dictionary
GoogleFetch: launches a Google search
Formatting
ItalicQuickSwitch: applies and removes italics
ItalicQuoteToggle: italicizes words set in quotation marks or places italicized words in quotation marks
PasteUnformatted: pastes text and applies the formatting of the surrounding text
Language Settings
LanguageSetUS and LanguageSetUK: sets the language of the entire document
LanguageToggle: changes the language setting of the selected word
Miscellaneous
2024 Global Editing Macros Survey: read the results of the survey, including the 10 most popular macros according to editors worldwide
CustomKeys: speeds up assigning shortcuts by opening the Customize Keyboard dialogue box and selecting the macro category
KeystrokeLister: creates a list of your custom shortcuts
WhatChar: identifies the name of a character and its ANSI and Unicode numbers
Numbers
NumberToTextUK: spells out numerals using “and” with hundreds (e.g., one hundred and twenty-one)
NumberToTextUS: spells out numerals without “and” with hundreds (e.g., one hundred twenty-one)
TextToNumber: converts written numbers to figures
Punctuation
Dashes
Dash: inserts a spaced en dash or replaces a punctuation mark with a spaced en dash
EmDashUnspaced: inserts an unspaced em dash or replaces a punctuation mark with an unspaced em dash
Hyphens
HyphenAlyse: identifies potential hyphenation inconsistencies
HyphenSpaceWordCount: tells you how often a word pair is written as one word, two words, and hyphenated
PunctuationToSpace: splits a hyphenated word into two words
PunctuationToHyphen: hyphenates a word pair
WordPairPunctuate: makes word pair hyphenated or one word
Periods / Full Points / Full Stops
FullPoint: inserts a period or replaces a punctuation mark with a period and lowercases the next word if needed
Quotation Marks
DoubleQuotesSingleTopical: replaces a set of double quotation marks with single quotation marks
ItalicQuoteToggle: italicizes words set in quotation marks or places italicized words in quotation marks
MatchDoubleQuotes: flags unpaired double quotation marks
MatchSingleQuotes: flags unpaired single quotation marks (but not apostrophes)
ParenthesesEtcPairDelete: deletes pairs of punctuation marks (quote marks, parenthesis, etc.)
QuotesAddDouble: adds a pair of double quotation marks around the selected text
QuotesAddSingle: adds a pair of single quotation marks around the selected text
SingleQuotesDoubleTopical: replaces a set of single quotation marks with double quotation marks
Miscellaneous Punctuation
JoinTwoWords: turns two words or a hyphenated word into a single word
ParensContentDelete: Deletes parentheses and the content inside
ParenthesesEtcPairDelete: deletes pairs of punctuation marks (quote marks, parenthesis, etc.)
PunctuationOff: deletes the next punctuation mark to the right of the cursor
SwapPunctuation: swaps adjacent punctuation marks, such as a period or a comma with a quotation mark
Style Sheets
CopyToList: copies a word to your style sheet
CopyToListAlphabetic: copies words to the word list section of your style sheet in alphabetical order
CopyToListAlphaMenu: copies a term to the chosen section of your style sheet in alphabetical order
Text edits
AbbrSwap: swaps the name of an organization (or term) and its abbreviation when one is in parentheses
ThatWhich: replaces "that" with "which" and vice versa
Tips
Backing up macros: instructions for two methods, one of which backs up your shortcuts
Comment bubbles: Word’s preset shortcuts for inserting comments
Keyboard shortcuts: a downloadable template for keeping track of your custom shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts: generate a list of your custom shortcuts (PC only)
Repetitive strain: how macros reduce the chance of injury and a breakdown of the different levels of strain editors experience
Repetitive strain: macros for selecting and moving text to reduce the chance of injury
Search the internet using a macro: how to create your own internet-searching macro
Track Changes
TrackSimplifier: accepts the tracking for all formatting edits, punctuation edits, and/or edits for multiple spaces
TrackOnOffVisible (for PC only): turns Track Changes off and adds a yellow background to remind you that tracking is off; runs it again to turn Track Changes back on
TrackOnOffVisibleMac (for Mac only): turns Track Changes off and adds a yellow background to remind you that tracking is off; runs it again to turn Track Changes back on
Troubleshooting
A macro suddenly stops working
Common Error #1: ambiguous name detected
Common Error #2: the keyboard shortcut you just assigned doesn’t work
Common Error #3: all your macros have disappeared
Common Error #4: the macro doesn’t function as expected
How to turn off Modern Comments
Security Risk: Microsoft has blocked your macros from running