Using LeapSpace within Microsoft Word
Insights into how to use our latest integration
Introducing the LeapSpace Microsoft Word add-in
LeapSpace™ is now available as an add-in for Microsoft Word, making it easier for you to improve your research without leaving your draft.
Watch this video for an overview of how the add-in works, then continue reading for information on downloading and using the add-in yourself.
If your institution has strict guidance around Microsoft Office integrations, you may have to contact your IT department to request the add-in be deployed for you.
LeapSpace Add-in for Microsoft Word Demo Video
LeapSpace Add-in for Microsoft Word Demo Video
LeapSpace Microsoft Word Add-in FAQs
About the LeapSpace Microsoft Word add-in
What is the LeapSpace add-in for Microsoft Word?
LeapSpace integrated with Microsoft Word brings research tools directly into your document. The add-in’s first feature, Claim Radar, helps you check claims from your writing against the wider literature. It draws on 107M+ peer-reviewed, source-neutral citations indexed in Scopus. Claim Radar sorts the evidence into what supports the claim, what contradicts it, and what's mixed, with key insights and source documents, all inside a task pane in Word. From there, you can use the evidence and documents to build out your arguments, citing them where needed.
The LeapSpace Word add-in is published by Elsevier.
Note: Who is this add-in for? It's built for anyone writing evidence-based documents, including, but not limited to: researchers drafting manuscripts, students writing coursework, grant writers building a case, R&D teams preparing technical reports and professionals in regulated environments such as clinical scientists, regulatory affairs teams, and medical writers.
What are the key features of this add-in?
Claim Radar — which checks your claims against the wider published literature — is the first feature in the LeapSpace add-in for Word. More capabilities will follow over time, and we welcome our users’ feedback to help shape what comes next.
Who can use the LeapSpace add-in?
You'll need a LeapSpace account to use the add-in, and your session stays active for a while, so you won't have to sign in every time. The add-in is available on paid LeapSpace plans, individual or organizational — if you're on a free plan, you'll need to upgrade to use it. See plansopens in new tab/window to find the option that's right for you.
How does the add-in handle my document?
This add-in doesn't auto-read your full document, and it doesn't access other files or documents on your device. It only processes the text you select to check for claims in your open document, and the only change it makes is highlighting the single claim you're viewing results for. LeapSpace does not use customer questions to train models or retain them for any purpose other than improving the quality of the tool and the answers given. For more details, see the add-in's license agreement.
Installing and using the LeapSpace Word add-in
Which versions of Word does the add-in support?
Claim Radar works in Word on the web, Word on Windows with a Microsoft 365 subscription, Word on Mac with a Microsoft 365 subscription, and Word 2021 or later on Windows or Mac. It isn't currently available in Word on iPad.
I can't find the add-in in the store
If you don't see the add-in in the store, you might be on an unsupported Word version. See "Which versions of Word are supported?" above.
It is also possible that your organization does not allow you to download add-ins, please contact your organization’s tech support to help you get the add-in. See more below.
How do I install the LeapSpace add-in?
How to install the add-in for individuals
Go to the LeapSpace Microsoft Word add-in listing on Microsoft Marketplace (https://marketplace.microsoft.com/en-us/product/office/WA200011824opens in new tab/window)
Select "Get it now" to install the add-in.
Open Word, then find and select the add-in under the Home tab's Add-ins menu to activate it. This opens the LeapSpace task pane and adds the LeapSpace tab — with its commands — to the ribbon.
Sign in with your LeapSpace account in the task pane.
How to deploy the add-in for organisations
Navigate to Settings > Org Settings > User owned apps and services and ensure that “Let users access the Office Store”opens in new tab/window is toggled on.
Navigate to Settings > Integrated apps > Add-ins.
Search for “LeapSpace” on Microsoft Marketplace.
Deploy the add-in to your organization or specific people.
Share these instructions with your team: Microsoft’s deployment guide.opens in new tab/window
After installation, team members can open Word, activate the LeapSpace add-in (from Tools > Add-ins on Mac or Home > Add-ins on Windows), sign in with their Leapspace credentials, and start working with their documents.
How do I use the LeapSpace add-in?
The LeapSpace Word add-in lets you check claims in your document against the wider published literature, without leaving your draft.
Everything happens in the task pane, which you can open from the LeapSpace tab on the ribbon. Once you are signed in, follow these steps.
Select text in your document. A paragraph or section works well.
Right-click your text selection and choose “Check for Claims” from the context menu. You can also use the “Check for Claims” ribbon command under the LeapSpace tab, which handles all text and formatting more consistently.
The add-in will detect claims and list them in the pane.
Pick a claim to test it against the literature. The add-in will process the claim and present you with evidence.
Sources are sorted into what supports the claim, what contradicts it, and what's mixed, with key insights.
From there, you can open any source on the publisher's site or in Scopus or read its abstract in the pane directly. These resources come in handy when you want to cite the evidence to build out an argument in your writing.
One thing to keep in mind: you'll need an active internet connection for the LeapSpace Word add-in to work.
Troubleshooting the LeapSpace Word add-in
Why do I get no results when checking for claims?
If you’re not getting results when checking for claims, try the following:
A paragraph or section works well when checking text for claims. Aim to keep your selection under 100,000 characters (about 14,000 words), since longer text can't be checked.
Select specific, testable statements — findings, statistics, cause-and-effect relationships, or quantified outcomes — rather than statements that are vague or can't be evidenced.
Try the ribbon command under the LeapSpace tab to “Check for Claims” instead; it handles text selection more consistently. The right-click “Check for Claims” option may not reliably detect claims in some text formatting — for example, text inside a table, or mixed with images or hyperlinks.
If you see an error message, select “Retry”. If it keeps happening, contact our support team.opens in new tab/window
How do I sign in on Safari when using Word on the web?
Safari's privacy protections can block the cookie LeapSpace needs to sign you in, until you grant it explicit permission. To fix this:
Open LeapSpaceopens in new tab/window in a new Safari tab or window.
Click anywhere on the page.
Return to Word on the web and select “Sign in to LeapSpace” in the task pane again.
When Safari asks whether to allow cookies from sciencedirect.com, select "Allow."
Select "Sign in to LeapSpace" in the task pane once more — this time, the sign-in window will open successfully, so you can continue to log in from here.
Note: If you don’t see the cookie prompt, refresh the page and sign in again. If it still doesn't appear, clear your Safari browsing history and website data, then try again.