Word 2008 (Mac OSX) grammar checking options limited?

[Commonmind]

I purchased a Unibody MacBook Pro earlier this year with the intention of making it my main writing platform. Unfortunately, I've run into a little snag within Word 2008's grammar preferences and was hoping someone else out there might've had a similar issue and can help point me in the right direction -- or lend me a shoulder to cry on in case there's no fix available.

The problem is Word 2008 appears to be severely limited in its grammar checking options. Word 2007 would underline those silly mistakes a few of us still make -- like than/then -- and suggest corrections. Word 2008 doesn't seem to have some of these features, and I'm finding myself missing them more than I thought I would. So much so that I've reverted to using my not-so-trusty Windows machine again, something I was trying to avoid.

Am I missing something small; a hidden option within the preferences pane that is just out of sight? Or is this feature unavailable in the current iteration of Word for OSX?

Any help is definitely appreciated -- even if it means pointing me in the direction of a more capable application (Pages will not suffice).

And *stretches his legs* it's good to be back on the Chrons

 

[chrispenycate]

Just sympathy, I fear. I don't even know what version my 'Word for Mac' is; probably quite a bit older than 2008. (One would expect information about this in the 'à propos de' window and I suppose 'copyright 1983-2001' gives a clue) and I've spent most of my energy in lobotomising it, preventing it from suggesting different ways of putting things. Not only was the thing brought up to believe French is the only language worth writing, I don't want to be told I'm in passive mood; I've done it deliberately.

So, as far as I am an expert in doing anything in computers (which is not very far at all) I'm specialised in making them shut up.

Nice to see you, by the way.

 

[Commonmind]

Haha. Thanks Chris. I may just turn off the suggestions altogether and write the way I used to -- checking for errors at a later time, when I feel like it. I do tend to spend far too long trying to discern whether or not Word is being completely honest with me.