Is anyone else annoyed that the section symbol is counted as a word in popular word processors?

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1

I’ve noticed something that really bugs me when I’m using Microsoft Word or Google Docs. The section symbol (§) is counted as a separate word, even when it’s right next to a number. This seems wrong to me.

I think it would make more sense if the word count didn’t include this symbol. Or maybe the software could be smart enough to only count it as part of the word when it’s attached to a number.

Does this bother anyone else? Am I being too picky about this? I’m curious to hear what others think about this small but annoying issue.

Has anyone found a way to change this in the settings? Or do we just have to live with it? Let me know your thoughts!

2

I completely understand your frustration with the section symbol issue. As someone who frequently works with legal documents, I’ve encountered this problem numerous times. It’s particularly annoying when you’re trying to meet a specific word count requirement for a submission or report. Unfortunately, I haven’t found a built-in solution in most word processors. One workaround I’ve used is to replace the section symbol with a custom character or abbreviation during the drafting process, then switch it back for the final version. It’s not ideal, but it helps maintain accurate word counts. Perhaps software developers will address this in future updates if enough users voice their concerns.

3

Ugh, tell me about it! :roll_eyes: that section symbol thing drives me nuts too. im always having to fiddle with my word counts cuz of it. wish theydd fix it already! have u tried complaining to microsoft or google? maybe if enough of us whine theyll actually do something LOL

4

I hear you on the section symbol issue. It’s one of those little things that can really get under your skin when you’re working on documents regularly. In my experience, it’s not just the section symbol either - other special characters like the paragraph symbol (¶) and copyright symbol (©) often get counted as separate words too. It’s frustrating when you’re trying to hit a specific word count target.

One trick I’ve found helpful is using find and replace to temporarily swap out these symbols with unique letter combinations before doing a word count. Then you can switch them back afterward. It’s a bit of extra work, but it gives you a more accurate count. Honestly though, I wish word processors would just handle this better out of the box. Maybe we need to start a petition to get the developers to fix it!