Finding Defined Terms

By default, Contract Tools finds defined terms using double quotation marks (“ ”, " ") or guillemets (« », ‹ ›). Alternatively, you can make Contract Tools find defined terms using text formatting (available in Word 2010 and later) or single quotation marks (‘ ’, ' '). To choose how Contract Tools finds defined terms, show the Contract Tools pane, click the Analysis Settings button, and then use the Defined Terms controls.

Note: It’s a good idea to make Contract Tools find defined terms using text formatting only if defined terms aren’t enclosed in double quotation marks or guillemets. It’s a good idea to make Contract Tools find defined terms using single quotation marks only if defined terms aren’t formatted.

When Contract Tools finds defined terms, it ignores some words and phrases that would otherwise be interpreted as defined terms if they’re not used:

  • Words and phrases that are preceded by definition of, heading, trademark, and so on

  • Words and phrases that are followed by as set forth, format, shall exclude, and so on

In addition, Contract Tools ignores numbers and amounts of money when it finds defined terms; see Finding Amounts of Money to learn about the currencies Contract Tools detects.

You may want Contract Tools to ignore some kinds of words and phrases when it finds defined terms.

To make Contract Tools ignore words and phrases when it finds defined terms:

  • Show the Contract Tools pane, click the Analysis Settings button, click Exclude below Defined Terms, and then select the kinds of words and phrases you want Contract Tools to ignore.

    Select this To make Contract Tools ignore these kinds of words and phrases

    Cross-reference prefixes, ancillaries, and proviso markers

    Article

    clause

    Exhibit

    provided that

    provided, however

    Schedule

    Section

    Words and phrases that appear in US laws

    closely held

    employee benefit plan

    hazardous substance

    well-known seasoned issuer

    Lowercase words and phrases defined in the Uniform Commercial Code

    account debtor

    electronic chattel paper

    net proceeds

    uncertificated security

    Common jargon

    and

    blue sky

    earn-out

    flex

In general, the words and phrases that you can make Contract Tools ignore when it finds defined terms are lowercase.

Note: Contract Tools always interprets ignorable words and phrases as defined terms when they appear in a list of defined terms and definitions.

To troubleshoot problems with finding defined terms in documents laid out using tables, see Contract Tools Won’t Find Content.

To learn how to include defined terms Contract Tools finds in another document in your main document, see Including Defined Terms from Another Document. To learn how to manage defined terms, including how to ignore defined terms, see Managing Defined Terms. To learn how to complete uses of defined terms as you type, see Using Defined Terms.