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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Word’s message “The name in the end tag of the element must match the element type in the start tag” means it found malformed XML: an element’s closing tag does not match its opening tag. Before trying a repair, make an untouched copy of the DOCX. Microsoft documents one specific cause in Word 2007, 2010, and 2013, involving equations and anchored objects; that scenario may not explain the same error in other files or newer versions.
What the end-tag error means
A DOCX contains structured document data. In XML, an element begins with a start-tag and ends with a matching end-tag; the names must match, and elements must be nested correctly. The XML 1.0 specification defines this matching rule. If Word encounters a closing tag that does not match its opening tag, it may be unable to open the document normally.
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This is a document-structure problem, not a formatting preference. The exact wording shown by Word is: “The name in the end tag of the element must match the element type in the start tag.” If Word provides Details, note the reported file part and line or column; that information can help identify where the malformed XML occurs.
Why this can happen in Word
Microsoft’s documented example is narrow: in Word 2007, 2010, or 2013, a paragraph containing an equation and an anchored graphical object or text box can be saved with mismatched mathematical XML tags. Microsoft says the error may appear only after the document is saved, edited again, and saved again. Its article does not establish that this is the cause of every similar error, particularly in newer Word versions.
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In the problematic structure, an <m:oMath> element begins inside <mc:AlternateContent> but closes after </mc:AlternateContent>. The corrected structure places the closing tags in the proper nesting order, so the m:oMath element wraps the alternate content. See Microsoft’s explanation and XML examples.
How to approach recovery safely
- Preserve the original. Make a separate working copy of the DOCX before attempting repairs. This is a general precaution, not a step Microsoft specifies in its article.
- Read Word’s full error details. Record any part name and line or column information Word provides. Do not assume that the reported issue is the equation-and-object case documented by Microsoft.
- Choose the repair path based on the evidence. If the file matches Microsoft’s older-version scenario and you are comfortable inspecting XML, correct the mismatched tag order rather than making blind additions or deletions. If you cannot confidently identify the opening and closing tags, do not edit the DOCX internals at random.
- Escalate when the cause is unclear. For a different scenario, or if XML editing is outside your experience, contact Microsoft Support or a qualified document-recovery professional. Microsoft also recommends contacting support if its proposed steps do not fix the problem.
If Word recovers the document
Being able to reopen a recovered file does not necessarily mean the underlying structure is fixed. Microsoft warns that the symptoms can return after further editing if the structure remains incorrect. For the affected legacy versions, Microsoft describes these follow-up options:
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- Group text-box objects: In Word 2010 or 2013, use the Selection pane to group the text-box objects, then save the recovered document under a new name. This is a documented workaround for the described case.
- Save a copy as Rich Text Format: Microsoft lists saving as Rich Text Format (*.rtf) as another workaround for Word 2007, 2010, and 2013. Keep the original DOCX and a separate recovered copy; changing formats can affect document features.
Microsoft’s article says Office 2013 and Office 2010 Service Pack 1 resolve the documented issue for new files and help prevent recurrence in recovered files. This is legacy guidance for that specific issue, not a general recommendation to obtain an old Office release or a guarantee for modern Word documents.
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