Macro of the Month – January 2023 – MatchDoubleQuotes / MatchSingleQuotes

Flags unpaired quotation marks

Welcome to the first newsletter of 2023. This month we look at a macro that will help us catch missing quotation marks. And good news for members of the Professional Editors’ Guild: You can now sign up for the upcoming Macros A to Z course through EFA at a discounted rate.

MatchDoubleQuotes/ MatchSingleQuotes

Sometimes an opening quote is missing its partner. MatchDoubleQuotes/ MatchSingleQuotes helps you find those instances.

How it works: MatchDoubleQuotes/MatchSingleQuotes underlines any paragraph that it suspects contains an unpaired quote mark. MatchSingleQuotes also puts a yellow highlight on all the “s” apostrophes because the macro cannot tell if they are possessive or an end quote.

How to use it: Run MatchDoubleQuotes/MatchSingleQuotes before you editing the document or at the end. Run it on a copy of the document, especially if there are already some underlined or highlighted passages you need to retain since it adds underlining and highlighting, in the case of MatchSingleQuotes. Then assess each of the underlined paragraphs for missing quotation marks. When you identify a place with a missing mark, place the cursor at that spot and run the FindSamePlace macro—make sure the original file is open. FindSamePlace will take you to that same place in the original file so you can add the missing quote or insert a query. 

Download MatchDoubleQuotes: www.wordmacrotools.com/macros/M/MatchDoubleQuotes

Download MatchSingleQuotes: www.wordmacrotools.com/macros/M/MatchSingleQuotes

Paul Beverley’s Macro Library

Did you know that Paul has a blog? It’s part of his new Word Macros Tools website that consolidates the information about his macros. Here you can access the Macro Menu, the categorized list of all his macros with links to the code and descriptions. Make sure to check out the Resources tab for helpful information about how to back up your macros and troubleshoot problems and other tips. For those new to macros, start on the "How can I get started?" page. And, of course, don’t forget to read the blog, which features posts by Paul and other macro users. Don’t forget to subscribe. 

Upcoming Training

Do you need support getting started with macros? Would you like to get more out of macros, including finally conquering how FRedit works? Or do you want to assemble a set of macros that will streamline your particular editorial workflow? 

The upcoming six-week Macros A to Z course will teach you all this and more. You will also have ample opportunity to get your questions answered and your technical roadblocks solved through a very active discussion forum and three Zoom Q&As. 

The course is open to PC and Mac users and caters to both those new to macros and those who have some experience using macros and want to get more out of them.

It begins on March 1, 2023, through the Editorial Freelancers Association. Members of CIEP, IPEd, Editors Canada, and PEG are eligible for a discounted rate; check with your editing organization for details.

 
What is your current favorite macro? Reply to this email and let me know.
 
Regards,
Jennifer