Unhelpful text selection

Question

I'm not certain if the problem I'm referring to is caused by Mac OS or individual applications, but here goes, anyway.
I do a lot of editing of text, in Word, NeoOffice InDesign and a range of other programmes, for a magazine that I edit. Quite often I would like to select a limited range of characters, sometimes parts of consecutive words in order to delete them. However, when I try to select more than a few characters, the selection automatically expands to include a whole word, often including any punctuation that follows. This seems to happen in many programmes, which is why I wondered if it was an OS problem.
I understand how this facility may be very helpful for someone who is just starting out on their Mac or who may have physical problem controlling the mouse to select a range of text. But for someone who is quite capable of deciding the precise text he wants to select - and who is therefore irritated when automatic features think they know better - this is a real nuisance!
When I began using Macs, in 1987, the problem didn't exist. This is something that's appeared in recent years and seems to have got worse. Does anyone have any suggestions of how to turn of this automated text selection feature which constantly changes what I really want to select?
Many thanks.

Answer 1

BillCMartin wrote:
I'm not certain if the problem I'm referring to is caused by Mac OS or individual applications, but here goes, anyway.
I do a lot of editing of text, in Word, NeoOffice InDesign and a range of other programmes, for a magazine that I edit. Quite often I would like to select a limited range of characters, sometimes parts of consecutive words in order to delete them. However, when I try to select more than a few characters, the selection automatically expands to include a whole word, often including any punctuation that follows. This seems to happen in many programmes, which is why I wondered if it was an OS problem.
I understand how this facility may be very helpful for someone who is just starting out on their Mac or who may have physical problem controlling the mouse to select a range of text. But for someone who is quite capable of deciding the precise text he wants to select - and who is therefore irritated when automatic features think they know better - this is a real nuisance!
When I began using Macs, in 1987, the problem didn't exist. This is something that's appeared in recent years and seems to have got worse. Does anyone have any suggestions of how to turn of this automated text selection feature which constantly changes what I really want to select?
Many thanks.
I run those Text programs plus others but am not seeing the same symptoms as you describe. Have you done a search of these forums for anybody else with a similar problem who may have addressed it?
Good Luck
Pete