Sub CountReferenceDates()
' Paul Beverley - Version 06.10.24
' Counts numbers of references older or newer than five years

myYear = Year(Now())
myLowerLimit = 1900 ' to avoid 'funny' numbers
myLowYear = myYear - 5 ' from 2024 dates 2019 and lower are "old"
myUpperLimit = myYear + 1 ' to avoid 'funny' numbers

If Selection.Start = Selection.End Then
  MsgBox "Please select the region for the count."
  Exit Sub
End If

numOld = 0
numNew = 0
For Each pa In Selection.Range.Paragraphs
  For Each wd In pa.Range.Words
    myVal = Val(wd)
    If myVal > myLowerLimit And myVal < myUpperLimit Then
      If myVal > myLowYear Then
        numNew = numNew + 1
        wd.HighlightColorIndex = wdBrightGreen
      Else
        numOld = numOld + 1
        wd.HighlightColorIndex = wdYellow
      End If
      Exit For
    End If
  Next wd
  DoEvents
Next pa
MsgBox "Five or more: " & numOld & vbCr _
     & "Less than five: " & numNew
End Sub