Thread: expected primary-expression before "struct"

Hi boys, I wrote this nice program in c++ a good deal was copied dev-c++ latest version keeps giving this error at the compilation : expected primary-expression before "struct"

I write here just the first part of the code till the mistake, you will find it at the line before the last.
I need it for a working interview and I am a bit nervous about it.
Thanks in advance-
Dora

Code:

                               
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <ctype.h>
//#include "sort_words.h"
struct word_item {
	char * word;
	struct word_item * next;
};

struct word_list {
	int length;
	struct word_item * first_word;
	struct word_list * next;
};

struct word_list * first_word_list = NULL;

char * read_word(FILE * fin){
	char c;
	int i;
	char * buffer = (char *)malloc(sizeof(char));
	buffer[0] = '\0';
	for (i=0; (c = fgetc(fin))!=EOF; i++) {
		if (isspace(c) || ispunct(c))
			break;
		buffer[i] = c;
		buffer = (char *)realloc(buffer, sizeof(char)*(i+1));
		buffer[i+1] = '\0';
	}
	if (c == EOF)
		return NULL;
	return buffer;
}

/*
void init_word_list() {
	first_word_list = NULL;
}
*/

struct word_list * 
init_word_list_item(int length, struct word_list * next, struct word_item * item) {
	struct word_list * word_list_item;
	word_list_item = (struct word_list *) malloc(sizeof(struct word_list));
	if (word_list_item == NULL) {
		printf("cannot allocate enough memory\n");
		exit(-1);
	}
	word_list_item->length = length;
	word_list_item->next = next;
	word_list_item->first_word = item;
	return word_list_item;
}

/*void append_word_item(struct word_list * current, struct word_list * new) {
	new->next = current->next;
	current->next = new;
}*/

struct word_list * get_word_list_item(int length) {
	struct word_list * cwl = NULL;
	struct word_list * new = NULL;       // Here the error is given
	struct word_list * previous = NULL;