# Is it possible to transpose two words in Microsoft Word?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-transpose-two-words-in-microsoft-word/670036>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 30, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-transpose-two-words-in-microsoft-word/670036 "2013-09-30T20:51:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Kobalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/41988e/32.png) [@Kobalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobalt)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-transpose-two-words-in-microsoft-word/670036/1 "2013-09-30T20:51:02Z")

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Greetings Microsoft Word Gurus (and anyone else who can answer this question)!

I have semi-long paper typed up using Microsoft Word 2010. What I’m trying to do swap two words for each other throughout half the document. For example, I need to replace every instance of “hot” with “cold” and every instance of “cold” with “hot”, simultaneously. I haven’t been able to figure out how to do this using “Find and Replace”, my Google-Fu is weak and Microsoft Word Help has been less than helpful.

Any suggestions?

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**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-transpose-two-words-in-microsoft-word/670036/2 "2013-09-30T20:52:36Z")

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Use a placeholder variable. Rename ‘hot’ to ‘tepid’, then rename ‘cold’ to ‘hot’. Finally, ‘tepid’ becomes ‘cold’.

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-transpose-two-words-in-microsoft-word/670036/3 "2013-09-30T21:11:04Z")

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> [@aNewLeaf](#):
>
> Use a placeholder variable. Rename ‘hot’ to ‘tepid’, then rename ‘cold’ to ‘hot’. Finally, ‘tepid’ becomes ‘cold’.

Just be careful that your placeholder isn’t used anywhere. It’s better to use some unique nonsense word. I tend to use ZZZ for example. It’s not something that I would normally put into a document.

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**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-transpose-two-words-in-microsoft-word/670036/4 "2013-09-30T21:19:39Z")

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Wait wait wait, I had this question in an interview once. You need to use bitwise-XOR. ( 😉 )

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**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-transpose-two-words-in-microsoft-word/670036/5 "2013-09-30T21:24:00Z")

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> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#):
>
> Just be careful that your placeholder isn’t used anywhere. It’s better to use some unique nonsense word. I tend to use ZZZ for example. It’s not something that I would normally put into a document.

Yes, this is an important point. Always search for your placeholder first.

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**Author:** ![Kobalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/41988e/32.png) [@Kobalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobalt)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-transpose-two-words-in-microsoft-word/670036/6 "2013-10-01T00:02:48Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Use a placeholder variable. Rename ‘hot’ to ‘tepid’, then rename ‘cold’ to ‘hot’. Finally, ‘tepid’ becomes ‘cold’.

So… I should use the incredibly obvious solution that I completely overlooked instead of the the overly complicated way that I spent too much time trying to figure out before giving up and asking for help? :smack:

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**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-transpose-two-words-in-microsoft-word/670036/7 "2013-10-01T00:07:38Z")

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“Never underestimate the power of Brute Force and Ignorance”

Words of advice from somebody with a degree in software engineering.  
Computers do mundane stuff so fast you don’t need to think about optimizing it.

And any time you spend more than a minute or two thinking about anything, go ahead and ask. No need to reinvent the wheel.

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-transpose-two-words-in-microsoft-word/670036/8 "2013-10-01T01:11:25Z")

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Just use xxxxxxxx as the placeholder.

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**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-transpose-two-words-in-microsoft-word/670036/9 "2013-10-01T01:13:45Z")

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> [@Kobalt](#):
>
> So… I should use the incredibly obvious solution that I completely overlooked

Nothing is obvious until someone shows it to you.