Introduction

Word is arguably the best word processor on the planet, and it's certainly the most widely used. That gives it the chance to be the most annoying word processor on the planetand Word grabs that chance with both hands.

In a straw poll of typical Word users, you'll usually find that its AutoCorrect and AutoFormat As You Type features annoy 10 out of 10 people. (The AutoFormat As You Type feature is the one that decides unilaterally that you're creating a numbered list when you aren't, or automatically slips in a hyperlink precisely where you don't need oneah, it annoys you too!) AutoText also scores highly, but not as highly as the squiggly red and green underlines with which Word endeavors to disrupt your concentration.

Unheralded crashes provoke universal fury, and even relatively harmless toolbars come in for savage abuse. But worst of all is the realization that dawns on most Word users: Word is trying to help you, and its help is making things worse . Life would be so much less annoying if only you could tell Word how to do things your way...

Now you can.