Word count completely screwed up

Sarah.pallett
Working in Word with Zotero the word count is completely malfunctioning, it counts an text citations as the complete reference list count. It impossible to work with, as I keep having to cut/paste into a draft doc to get rid of the field codes without deleting them from my original doc. Help!
  • adamsmith
    This is an often reported problem, but I can't actually replicate this.
    Which Word version and OS is this?
    Some people report that the Word count button in the Review tab is accurate even when the live Word count at the button isn't. Does that work for you?
  • Sarah.pallett
    Hi - I'm using Word 2013, Windows 7 enterprise 2009 Service pack 1. Its also happening on my home computer with Windows 8.
    What is happening is that one of the in text citations is being counted as the entire reference list word count.
    This REALLY sucks, I'm being marked down for exceeding word count.
  • Sarah.pallett
    Had no reply to this in 3 days ...
  • adamsmith
    You didn't answer my second questions
    Some people report that the Word count button in the Review tab is accurate even when the live Word count at the button isn't. Does that work for you?
    but also, there unfortunately isn't much Zotero can do about it (Mendeley has the same problem and I'd be surprised if Endnote didn't): if Word counts words in Fields, that's clearly a word bug, and not one that I see how Zotero could reasonable work around.
  • Sarah.pallett
    Hi Adam

    its possible that this works, and its useful for me personally, BUT I can't tell a lecturer how to count my words.
    So I guess what I should do is remove field codes prior to any submission, do you reckon?
    You think this is then a Word issue?

    Thanks

    Sarah
  • adamsmith
    Oh, you should definitely remove field codes prior to submitting your work, yes. Keep a copy with all fields intact, of course, but removing field codes is stand ard for submissions at all levels. Journals, e.g., are quite insistent that you do so.

    And yes, I do think it's a Word issue.
  • Sarah.pallett
    Thanks for that - will do that in future! Its one of those 'things you should know'!!!
    Cheers for your help :)
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