Readability statistics incorrect or missing in Word 2003 or in Word 2002 (292069)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Word 2003
  • Microsoft Word 2002
This article was previously published under Q292069
For a Microsoft Word 2000 version of this article, see 255534.

SYMPTOMS

You may notice one of the following symptoms with the readability statistics returned after Microsoft Word completes checking the grammar of your document:
  • The readability statistics may be incorrect.
  • The readability statistics may be displayed as all zeros.
  • The readability statistics may appear for a different language than the one that you checked.
  • The readability statistics may not appear at all.

CAUSE

The following are possible reasons why the readability statistics might be incorrect or not displayed.
  • The text being checked is a one-line paragraph with no punctuation mark at the end of the sentence.

    Resolution: Add punctuation to the end of the sentence before you check the spelling and grammar of your Word document.
  • You have clicked to select the Do not check spelling or grammar check box in the Language dialog box. When Word checks text that you formatted by clicking to select the Do not check spelling or grammar check box, you receive the following error message:
    The spelling and grammar check is complete.
    Text marked with "Do not check spelling or grammar" was skipped.
    Word does not include the text formatted with the Do not check spelling or grammar option in the readability statistics.

    Resolution: Format the skipped text with the language of the text in the remainder of your Word document.
  • If you have set up Microsoft Word to check the spelling and grammar of text in other languages, and a document contains text in multiple languages, Word displays readability statistics for text in the last language it checked. For example, if a document contains three paragraphs - the first in English, the second in French, and the third in English - Word displays readability statistics for the third (English) paragraph only.

    Resolution: Select the text that is formatted in the different language, and check the spelling and grammar of the selected text only. Repeat this process for each section of text formatted in a different language.
  • You have added a PAGE field to your Word document. This problem occurs whether you add the PAGE field by using Page Numbers on the Insert menu, by using Field on the Insert menu, or by typing the PAGE field manually (by pressing CTRL+F9 and typing PAGE).

    After you add the PAGE field, when you check the spelling and grammar of your Word document, Word displays the following message:
    The spelling and grammar check is complete.
    Text marked with "Do not check spelling or grammar" was skipped.
  • You have added one or more comments to your Word document (on the Insert menu, click Comment).

    Resolution: After you perform a grammar or spelling check, click No when you receive the following message:
    Word finished checking the selection. Do you want to continue checking the remainder of the document?
  • Your document is formatted in Spanish, German, or French.

    Resolution: This is by design. Some European languages, such as Spanish, German and French, do not use the Flesch readability statistics. If your document is formatted for one of these languages, Word displays only information about counts and averages, not about readability.

MORE INFORMATION

When Microsoft Word finishes checking spelling and grammar, it can display information about the reading level of the document, including readability scores based on the average number of syllables per word, and words per sentence.

To show the readability statistics after checking spelling and grammar, turn on the Show readability statistics option. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  2. On the Spelling & Grammar tab, click to select the Show readability statistics check box.
  3. Click OK.
For more information about readability statistics, click Microsoft Word Help on the Help menu, type readability scores in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:3/23/2006
Keywords:kbprb KB292069
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