Spellchecking Words with Superscripts

One style with which I work calls for a thin space between a character and any (superscript) note reference unless it follows punctuation (which it usually does). It also calls for a thin space between note references if more than one is cited at the same place. This occurs occasionally, as the note references in a clause should normally be at the end of a clause. Consequently, this style choice may "collect" several note references in one place. Superscripted non-breaking spaces serve both purposes.

Thank you! Rod and Ken posted solutions that did the trick for me, although I'm saving a copy of each report to the desktop and working in that copy for now, for fear I won't be able to delete the inserted spaces once I've run the spell checker.

Perfect timing! I was going to submit my problem today, but this tip is related. However, my problem has to do with a subscript r combined with capital letter M to form the notation for resilient modulus. Spell check reads Mr just fine--even without a trailing period--but consistently blue squiggles the following word because it isn't capitalized as a proper name.

I've struggled with this for a long time and would welcome any and all suggestions.

Here are two macros that do what Rod suggests with Peter's variation. The first macro puts a space and the character @ between the word and the superscript and also internally in the superscript if it contains spaces or word delimiters such as a period. It then invokes the spell checker.

The second macro removes the space and @ characters from subscripts and turns off the spell checker. This will also remove flags from all misspelt words. Because the @ character is a wildcard it is necessary to turn MatchWildcards off. Another character that is unlikely to appear in a superscript could be used instead of @.

Sub SpellCheckSuperscriptedWords()
With Selection.Find
.ClearFormatting
.Text = "([! .,?]{1,})>"
.Font.Superscript = True
.Replacement.Text = " @1"
.MatchWildcards = True
.Wrap = wdFindContinue
.Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll
End With
Application.ResetIgnoreAll
ActiveDocument.SpellingChecked = False
End Sub

Sub RemoveSpaceFromSuperscript()
With Selection.Find
.ClearFormatting
.Text = " @"
.Font.Superscript = True
.Replacement.Text = ""
.MatchWildcards = False
.Wrap = wdFindContinue
.Execute Replace:=wdReplaceAll
End With
ActiveDocument.SpellingChecked = True
End Sub

Yes, it could be done with a macro quite easily. If I can find some spare time I will write one and post here.

Have I missed something? Whilst I admit I couldn't write one, isn't there a macro solution?

To avoid removal of spaces within the superscript when using Rod's method, in addition to inserting the space [space] between base word and superscript insert some character not used anywhere in your text. For this discussion, I'll call it [char]. So insert [space][char] at the beginning of each superscript.

When you are ready to remove the space, use Find and Replace to identify the string [space][char]. This will catch the spaces you added but not any of the "native" spaces in the superscript.

I think the procedure given Rod is a better/easier way of handling this issue.

Along similar lines you could introduce a space character before any superscripted text using Find/Replace with wildcards, do the spell check, and then remove the extra space using Find/Replace with wildcards.

A. To add the extra space

1. Select the Find and Replace dialog box, type '([! .,?]{1,})' into the Find What: box, click Format, then Font ..., then Superscript, and finally OK.

2. Type ' 1' into the Replace with: box

3. Select Use wildcards

4. Click Replace or Replace All(according to taste *)

B. Run the spell checker. In cases where the superscript is already preceded by a space there may be two spaces.

C. To remove the extra space

1. Select the Find and Replace dialog box, type '([ ])' into the Find What: box, click Format, then Font ..., then Superscript, and finally OK.

2. Clear the contents of the Replace with: box

3. Select Use wildcards

4. Click Replace or Replace All (according to taste *)

* I find it useful to click Replace a few times to ensure the Find and Replace is working as expected before clicking Replace All.

Spaces within a superscript are removed by step C4 in the addition to the leading spaces introduced in Step A4.

I suspect that this could be improved with some work.