# Impossible? Word by word check

**URL:** <https://forum.xbench.net/t/impossible-word-by-word-check/255>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [May 25, 2017, 5:58am UTC](https://forum.xbench.net/t/impossible-word-by-word-check/255 "2017-05-25T05:58:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Cony](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/forum.xbench.net/cony/32/26_2.png) [@Cony](https://forum.xbench.net/u/Cony)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 5:58am UTC](https://forum.xbench.net/t/impossible-word-by-word-check/255/1 "2017-05-25T05:58:48Z")

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If we have a sentence that lists a number of things separated by punctuation, can aspic verify word by word via perhaps RegEx or any other way?

For example,

A long sentence, that keeps going, extending, and going.

The idea here is to be able to catch any missing words in the target. I realize that languages behave differently so the target may have two or more words per source words, however I am wondering if via punctuation?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pcondal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/forum.xbench.net/pcondal/32/305_2.png) [@pcondal](https://forum.xbench.net/u/pcondal)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 2:12pm UTC](https://forum.xbench.net/t/impossible-word-by-word-check/255/2 "2017-05-25T14:12:12Z")

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I understand that you wish to ensure that the number of something-delimited items does not increase nor decrease.

I cannot come up with any RegEx search that can do that so the options with Xbench would not be a direct approach:

**Option A**. Write an Xbench QA plugin ([documentation](https://download.xbench.net/ApSIC.Xbench.3.0.QA.Plug-in.Reference.Guide.pdf) and [sample code in GitHub](https://github.com/xbench)) that especifically tests that. It is a high difficulty item because it requires programming skills in your team.

**Option B**. Make a copy of the input files and do a global change in source and target of the delimiter by something tag-shaped, for example `<comma>`. Then the Xbench tag mismatch check would be able to catch if there are extra or missing commas in the sequence. You can also seach for appearances of two `<comma>` tag in a row. This is a much simpler approach, the skills required are basic scripting skills in your team.