Microsoft Word Buggy - I can't select large portions of text

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Microsoft Word Buggy - I can't select large portions of text

Anonymous

Hi, Suddenly Word doesn't allow me to select large portions of text.

I can double click to select a word, or a full line. I can't find a way to select more than that. (Nothing happens when I click on something and then drag the cursor to select a larger area of text.)

It's super frustrating because I can't do any real writing or editing this way!

I'm on a Macbook pro, 2021. OS: Monterey 12.6

I have Microsoft 365 for Mac.

I didn't make any changes in my hardware or software that I'm aware of,

But I can no longer click and then hold down and drag the cursor to expand the area of selected text to make it larger.

Did Microsoft update Word and introduce some bugs when working on a mac?

Or what can I do to fix this from my end?

Thanks!!

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3 additional answers

Answer 1

There's no need to hold Shift while scrolling simply click at the start, scroll if necessary, then hold Shift while you click at the end. Just a few of the other methods which IMHO are far more accurate & efficient than dragging:

To select a word double-click the word
To select an entire sentence beginning to end hold the Command key while clicking anywhere in the sentence.
To select an entire paragraph triple-click anywhere within it

All of the above can be extended on the same basis by using the Shift-Click method. E.g., Command-click a sentence then Shift-click in another to include it as well as all sentences in between.

The left margin is a selection area as well:

Click to the left of a line to select the line
Double-click to select the adjacent paragraph
Triple-click or Command-click to Select All
Drag down (or up) in the margin to select line-by-line

Unfortunately, dragging is the first & only method most users pick up on their own, so that's what they're most comfortable with. Introducing other methods may seem awkward at first but soon become second nature.

Answer 2

Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 435K

First, update your macOS - v12.6.3 is current for Monterey. That should require a restart of the Mac but if not do so any way.

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Answer 3

One document, many documents, any and all documents?

I know of no change to selection modes in the last five years.

Potential workaround.

Click on mouse at beginning of text to be selected. Scroll using scroll bar or arrow keys to end of material to be selected. While holding down the Shift key, click where you want the selection to end.

Answer 4

It's a problem on all my word docs. I can select text normally in google docs, or in gmail. But not in Word.

This workaround of holding down the shift key, and then scrolling to where I want the selection to end, does work. Thanks!

It's a bit clutsy, but it gives me a way to do my work.

Thanks again.

As Bob pointed out, you do not have to hold the shift key down until you reach the end of your selection.

You want to hold it down before you click.

Sorry I was not more clear in my directions.

Answer 5

It's a problem on all my word docs. I can select text normally in google docs, or in gmail. But not in Word.

This workaround of holding down the shift key, and then scrolling to where I want the selection to end, does work. Thanks!

It's a bit clutsy, but it gives me a way to do my work.

Thanks again.

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Microsoft Word Buggy - I can't select large portions of text

3 additional answers