# Triple-clicking in Word highlights only the first word?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-clicking-in-word-highlights-only-the-first-word/465202>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 25, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-clicking-in-word-highlights-only-the-first-word/465202 "2008-09-25T19:26:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-clicking-in-word-highlights-only-the-first-word/465202/1 "2008-09-25T19:26:34Z")

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What the heck happened? I used to be able to triple-click a line (Word 2000), and it would automatically highlight the entire line/paragraph. Now, it seems to highlight the entire paragraph for an instant, then highlight just the first word. Did I accidentally change a setting? How do I set it back? Arrrrghhhhh!

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**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-clicking-in-word-highlights-only-the-first-word/465202/2 "2008-09-25T19:33:08Z")

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Is it possible you are quadruple-clicking? Triple-clicking highlights the entire paragraph, and then a fourth click goes back to a single word highlighted.

If that’s not it, then I got nuthin’…

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**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-clicking-in-word-highlights-only-the-first-word/465202/3 "2008-09-25T19:37:45Z")

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Definitely triple-clicking. I couldn’t understand what was happening (it was rather subtly driving me mad), so paid very close attention to the steps. It highlights the entire paragraph for a second or so (post clicking), then reverts to just the first word.

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**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-clicking-in-word-highlights-only-the-first-word/465202/4 "2008-09-25T20:30:41Z")

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I’m not using Word 2000, I’m on 2008, but in the options for 2008 there is a check box for “Use smart paragraph selection” in the advanced Word options. Does that existin in 2000?

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**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-clicking-in-word-highlights-only-the-first-word/465202/5 "2008-09-25T20:58:24Z")

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> [@BurnMeUp](#):
>
> I’m not using Word 2000, I’m on 2008, but in the options for 2008 there is a check box for “Use smart paragraph selection” in the advanced Word options. Does that existin in 2000?

I thought so, but I can’t find it at the moment. I can find the automatically select entire word box, but not smart paragraph selection. Funny thing is that triple-clicking works in the help screen, so I know it’s Word-based.