Happy Fourth

For most people in the United States, this is a holiday weekend. Yesterday, July 4, was Independence Day, celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

Because the holiday was on a Friday this year, that means that the festivities will, no doubt, continue through the weekend. In our town, fireworks have been going off for a couple of nights and I expect them for a few more.

If you are celebrating this weekend, I hope you have a safe, happy time.

—Allen

WordTips (ribbon) for 5 July 2025

Stopping a Two-Word Phrase from being Flagged as an Error

As you type, Word is busy working in the background to determine if there are spelling and grammar errors in your prose. In some instances, the flagged errors may not actually be errors. This tip examines what can be done to correct such situations.

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(Thanks to Michael Avidan (MVP), Robert Jamison, and Tracey Stark for contributing to this tip.)

Removing HTML Tags from Text

HTML tags are great when you want to display information on a web page. They are not so great when you have them in a Word document. This tip looks at ways you can get rid of those HTML tags and still retain the formatting that would result from the tags.

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Word Macros, from the Ground Up

Macros are the key to making Word do what you really want it to do. I've written a complete tutorial that explains, from the ground up, how you can harness the power of macros. Word VBA Guidebook provides the information you need to finally conquer Word macros.

Adding a Break to Your Document

Want to modify the way your text flows between pages in a document? Word allows you to insert several types of breaks that control the flow for you.

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Finding Text Not Using a Particular Font

Word makes it easy to find text that uses a particular font or font characteristics. What it doesn't do is make it easy to find text that doesn't use a particular font. Here's a few ways you can find the text you need.

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WordTips YouTube Channel

Do you like to learn visually? Make sure you check out the WordTips YouTube channel. New videos are added weekly. (I typically try to add them on Tuesdays and Thursdays.)

New video: Using Overtype Mode
When you type information into a document, what you type is normally inserted just the left of the insertion point. Word includes another editing mode that replaces existing text with whatever you type. This Quick Tip describes what overtype mode is and how it works.

New video: Creating Accessible Documents
Did you know that millions of people with disabilities rely on assistive technologies to read and interact with digital documents? Creating accessible Word documents isn't just a nice-to-have, it's essential for ensuring everyone can access your content, and in many organizations, it's becoming a legal requirement.

Help Wanted

This section is for those having problems making Word behave. If Word is giving you fits, feel free to submit your own Help Wanted question.

If you have a solution for the problems below, click the link after the problem to send us your answer. (All responses become the sole property of Sharon Parq Associates, Inc., and can be used in any way deemed appropriate.) If your response is used in a future issue, you will be credited for your contribution to the answer.

Automating a Two-Column Section

I have a document in which a large number of sections have to be displayed in two columns, with a line between. Is there a way I can automate that process?
—Ralph Hickok (provide an answer for this Help Wanted question)

WordTips is a free service of Sharon Parq Associates. You can find thousands of tips at our website and a whole lot more. WordTips is part of the Tips.Net network.

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