I'm sure your other programming environments would fail, too, if you used code like:
IF MyVar = XThenY
Most IDEs have the intelligence to insert the spaces either side of a mathematical operator for you, but can't handle errors such as with the lack of spaces either side of the 'Then' in the above. With Word field's you're the IDE.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]