Checking for Sentences Beginning with Conjunctions

The grammar checker included with Word is quite powerful when it comes to checking matters of style in your writing. One of the things you can have Word 97 or Word 2000 check for is whether any of your sentences begin with certain conjunctions, such as "and," "but," or "hopefully." If you want Word to flag sentences that begin this way, follow these steps:

1. Choose Options from the Tools menu. Word displays the Options dialog box.
2. Make sure the Spelling & Grammar tab is selected. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. Click on the Settings button. Word displays the Grammar Settings dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
4. Scroll through the Grammar and Style Options list until you find the Sentences Beginning with And, But, and Hopefully option. Make sure it is checked.
5. Click on OK twice to close both dialog boxes.

If you enable this grammar-checking option, Word will also flag sentences that use the word "plus" as a conjunction between independent clauses in a sentence.