diff --git a/Modbus/inc/word.h b/Modbus/inc/word.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..667fd4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Modbus/inc/word.h
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+/**
+@file
+Utility Functions for Manipulating Words
+
+@defgroup util_word "util/word.h": Utility Functions for Manipulating Words
+@code#include "util/word.h"@endcode
+
+This header file provides utility functions for manipulating words.
+
+*/
+/*
+
+  word.h - Utility Functions for Manipulating Words
+
+  This file is part of ModbusMaster.
+
+  ModbusMaster is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+  it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+  the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+  (at your option) any later version.
+
+  ModbusMaster is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+  GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+  along with ModbusMaster.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+  Written by Doc Walker (Rx)
+  Copyright © 2009-2015 Doc Walker <4-20ma at wvfans dot net>
+
+*/
+
+
+#ifndef _UTIL_WORD_H_
+#define _UTIL_WORD_H_
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+/** @ingroup util_word
+    Return low word of a 32-bit integer.
+
+    @param uint32_t ww (0x00000000..0xFFFFFFFF)
+    @return low word of input (0x0000..0xFFFF)
+*/
+static inline uint16_t lowWord(uint32_t ww) {
+return (uint16_t) ((ww) & 0xFFFF);
+}
+
+
+/** @ingroup util_word
+    Return high word of a 32-bit integer.
+
+    @param uint32_t ww (0x00000000..0xFFFFFFFF)
+    @return high word of input (0x0000..0xFFFF)
+*/
+static inline uint16_t highWord(uint32_t ww)
+{
+  return (uint16_t) ((ww) >> 16);
+}
+
+/* utility functions for porting ModbusMaster to LPCXpresso
+ * added by krl
+ */
+static inline uint16_t word(uint8_t ww)
+{
+  return (uint16_t) (ww);
+}
+
+static inline uint16_t word(uint8_t h, uint8_t l)
+{
+  return (uint16_t) ((h << 8) | l);
+}
+
+static inline uint8_t highByte(uint16_t v)
+{
+  return (uint8_t) ((v >> 8) & 0xFF);
+}
+
+static inline uint16_t lowByte(uint16_t v)
+{
+	return (uint8_t) (v & 0xFF);
+}
+
+static inline uint8_t bitRead(uint8_t v, uint8_t n)
+{
+	return (uint8_t) (v & (1 << n) ? 1 : 0);
+}
+
+static inline void bitWrite(uint16_t& v, uint8_t n, uint8_t b)
+{
+	if(b) v = v | (1 << n);
+	else v = v & ~(1 << n);
+}
+
+
+#endif /* _UTIL_WORD_H_ */