Backspace button won't delete text in MS Word

[ekearney]

In MS Word 2003, if I highlight a word/paragraph and press the Backspace button it doesn't delete the text.  If I highlight a word/paragraph and type another word it doesn't delete the highlighted word/para.  I'm forced to use the Delete button now.  The Backspace button used to be my go to button- loved it.  In Firefox, Windows, anywhere else I can still use Backspace as before; only Windows has this problem. 

Another problem that I just notice is that I can press Tab to indent a paragraph, but when I try to use Shift+Tab to bring it back it simply pushes the text further to the right, as if I'd just pressed Tab again.  Again this is only in Word.  Maybe related?

I must have made some change but don't know what I did.  I really don't remember doing anything out of the ordinary... Does anyone know how to change this setting?

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

In MS Word, go to Tools --> Options --> Edit Tab and make sure that Typing Replaces Selection (first option) has a tick next to it.

As for Shift + Tab, it does the same thing as Tab on my computer.

[ekearney]

Brilliant, thanks a lot!  I guess I assumed that the Shift+Tab worked to un-Tab like it does moving backwards between fields.  Oh well.

Thanks again for the quick fix!

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

No problem.

Note: Backspace gets rid of the tab index.