' This method returns the position just inside of the first text Run (if any) in a 
' specified text container.
Private Function FindFirstRunInTextContainer(ByVal container As DependencyObject) As TextPointer
    Dim position As TextPointer = Nothing

    If container IsNot Nothing Then
        If TypeOf container Is FlowDocument Then
            position = (CType(container, FlowDocument)).ContentStart
        ElseIf TypeOf container Is TextBlock Then
            position = (CType(container, TextBlock)).ContentStart
        Else
            Return position
        End If
    End If
    ' Traverse content in forward direction until the position is immediately after the opening 
    ' tag of a Run element, or the end of content is encountered.
    Do While position IsNot Nothing
        ' Is the current position just after an opening element tag?
        If position.GetPointerContext(LogicalDirection.Backward) = TextPointerContext.ElementStart Then
            ' If so, is the tag a Run?
            If TypeOf position.Parent Is Run Then
                Exit Do
            End If
        End If

        ' Not what we're looking for on to the next position.
        position = position.GetNextContextPosition(LogicalDirection.Forward)
    Loop

    ' This will be either null if no Run is found, or a position just inside of the first Run element in the
    ' specifed text container.  Because position is formed from ContentStart, it will have a logical direction
    ' of Backward.
    Return position
End Function

' This method will search for a specified word (string) starting at a specified position.
Private Function FindWordFromPosition(ByVal position As TextPointer, ByVal word As String) As TextPointer
    Do While position IsNot Nothing
        If position.GetPointerContext(LogicalDirection.Forward) = TextPointerContext.Text Then
            Dim textRun As String = position.GetTextInRun(LogicalDirection.Forward)

            ' Find the starting index of any substring that matches "word".
            Dim indexInRun As Integer = textRun.IndexOf(word)
            If indexInRun >= 0 Then
                position = position.GetPositionAtOffset(indexInRun)
                Exit Do
            End If
        Else
            position = position.GetNextContextPosition(LogicalDirection.Forward)
        End If
    Loop

    ' position will be null if "word" is not found.
    Return position
End Function