Word Count variations between Word 2007 and older version

[aitch]

Strictly speaking I am not a newbie but this looks the right place to post on
this particular question.

For years I have used Office Pro '97 and recently switched to Office
Standard 2007. I regularly send off stories to editors and for them the Word
Count is critical. On converting 'save as' material to the new format some of
the differences in Word Count are remarkable and puzzling.

For example. 9 stories at random show that the 2007 Version has 2623 words
less than the older count (on around 30000 words). Include in that 4
instances where 2007 has more words than the '97 and therefore 5 show more in
the older word.

One especially striking example is a story that - apparently - has 8255
words in 2007 Words and yet 9799 in '97.

I'm baffled and would appreciate any advice that is offered.

Thank you,

Aitch.

 

[aitch]

Minutes later. I have just looked at a longer thing I wrote. If Word 2007 is
correct I have just lost a lot of words as a 72518 word story - according to
'97 - has just shrunk to 58582.

Very puzzling.

Which one is right?

Aitch

 

[Greg Maxey]

aitch,

I don't have versions earlier than 2003, but I think Word97 automatically
includes words in footnotes and endnotes in its count when you select the
whole document. By default, Word2007 excludes footnotes and endnotes.

Have you tried Review>Proofing>Word Count and checking the option to include
this text area?


--
Greg Maxey

See my web site http://gregmaxey.mvps.org
for an eclectic collection of Word Tips.

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong
man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The
credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and
sweat and blood, who strives valiantly...who knows the great enthusiasms,
the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best
knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if
he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never
be with those cold and timid souls who have never known neither victory nor
defeat." - TR

 

[aitch]

Hello Greg,

The new Word gives me the option of in or out with textboxes, footnotes and
endnotes. As I don't use any of those but just headers and footers I'll
ignore the earlier counts and treat the Word 2007 as the correct one from now
on.

I can't think of a valid reason yet for the massive difference on one
particular story I mentioned but there must be on that I haven't fathomed
yet. Again, I'll treat the new as correct rather than the old - so it's back
to the keyboard again for more writing.

I apprecaite your assistance. All the best,

Aitch.