Sub DashesParenthicalToCommas()
' Paul Beverley - Version 30.08.25
' Changes a pair of parenthetical (hyphens or) dashes to commas

Selection.Collapse wdCollapseStart
myStart = Selection.Start
Selection.Expand wdParagraph
Selection.Start = myStart
dashPosn = InStr(Selection, " -")
If dashPosn = 0 Then dashPosn = InStr(Selection, " " _
     & ChrW(8211))
If dashPosn = 0 Then
  Beep
  MsgBox "Can't find a hyphen or an en dash"
  Exit Sub
End If

paraEnd = Selection.End

' Select first dash and type comma instead
Selection.MoveStart , dashPosn - 1
Selection.End = Selection.Start + 2
Selection.TypeText Text:=","

Selection.End = paraEnd
dashPosn = InStr(Selection, " -")
If dashPosn = 0 Then dashPosn = InStr(Selection, " " _
     & ChrW(8211))
If dashPosn = 0 Then
  Beep
  MsgBox "Can't find the second hyphen or en dash"
  Selection.Collapse wdCollapseStart
  Exit Sub
End If

' Select second dash and type comma instead
Selection.MoveStart , dashPosn - 1
Selection.End = Selection.Start + 2
Selection.TypeText Text:=","
End Sub