Word 08 word count erratic and inaccurate

[whitman]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: intel

I have some important docs that need accurate word counts.

Yesterday, Word 08 counted one of these docs at about 6,300 words. This morning, without changes to the same doc, it shows about 5,500. So I checked a single paragraph that I hand-counted at 29 words. It showed 24.

I switched to Word 04 and it shows the same document at about 6,500. The test paragraph it gets correct at 29. I'm assuming it really is 6,500.

Can I ever trust Word 08? Or should I switch back to good old 04?

 

[CyberTaz]

Hello Whitman -

If by "accurate" you mean Word coming up with exactly what you'd come up
with yourself, the honest answer to your question is "Neither 2004 or
2008."... Or any other version of most word processors. In fact, the
facility in each version is most likely the same one. The word count
features built into the programs are inflexible, arbitrary, and intended to
provide only an approximation. There are numerous variables which influence
their results and the more complex & lengthy the doc the more dramatic the
differential. That's why you got an "accurate" count on the [most likely
"simple"] singular paragraph, although why the discrepancy on that same para
between '04 & '08 I really can't say.

The variables can include such things as Tracked Changes, Language
variation, the use of em- and en-dashes, hyphenation/exceptions,
non-breaking spaces/hyphens, etc. And - no disrespect - if any of the
content was pasted from another source you really have no way of knowing
what sort of demons may have come along for the ride.

I've not with them for some time, but there are a number of separate utility
apps that do a far better job & provide at least some degree of user input
of settings & parameters. I've not used it - nor is this an endorsement -
but a brief bit of research yielded this one which is pretty well rated and
is also Free. Other regulars here may be able to suggest additional options:

http://www.supermagnus.com/mac/Word_Counter/

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac