# Problem in Microsoft Word

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-in-microsoft-word/511793>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 27, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-in-microsoft-word/511793 "2009-09-27T23:55:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![stanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@stanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stanger)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-in-microsoft-word/511793/1 "2009-09-27T23:55:06Z")

</div>

I have a semi-recurring problem using Microsoft Word 2002 that I can’t figure out.

I can start a document, save it, recall it, edit and add to it, but at some point I will want to add a word or sentence inbetween existing words, or add a space between words, but when I try to do this, the letters immediately after the cursor start disappearing as I type the new letters. It is very hard to edit or add to a document when old text starts disappearing as you try to add new text.

The only way I can solve this is to save the work, close Word, reopen Word, open the document, then I can edit as usual.

It doesn’t do this all the time, so I don’t know what is causing it. Is there an Options marker I need to check or uncheck?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-in-microsoft-word/511793/2 "2009-09-27T23:58:57Z")

</div>

Try toggling the “insert” key on your keyboard. Report back if this doesn’t work.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JustThinkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@JustThinkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustThinkin)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-in-microsoft-word/511793/3 "2009-09-28T01:05:40Z")

</div>

What **Superhal** said. I used to have this problem – it occurred when I accidently hit insert instead of delete. You can change the function in Tools, Options, Edit tab. Select “Use the INS key for paste”.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![stanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@stanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stanger)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-in-microsoft-word/511793/4 "2009-09-28T03:08:29Z")

</div>

Thanks for the recommendations.

I have a crappy keyboard that the Backspace key needs to be hit real hard to work. I think I may have been hitting the Insert or Delete key in my attempts to Backspace, and that has been causing the problems.

Thanks again.