"Software" is not singular. It can be a plural term. May be this
discussion needs to be cross-posted to alt.usage.english but the
problem is with Word 2003 grammar.
In context:
You need to use special software to create your personal website.
These are software that are very easy to use these days.
This is correct but Word found fault with "are" so I changed it to
"These are pieces of software that are very easy to use these days."
and Word accepted the "are". This goes to show that software is not a
"singular" term.
To prove that Word 2003 does not consider software as a "singular" try
both these sentences:
Not all html editor software are created equal
Not all html editor software is created equal
Both do not get flagged for any error.
Here is another reference which clearly needs a plural reference for
"software"
"Other web site maker software are often bloated"
Here too, Word finds fault with the "are".
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