Inserting comments with Track Changes

by WordGuru · 3 comments

What if you (or your attorney) don’t want to actually change a particular section of a document, but just want to ask a question, point out a problem, just plain make a comment?  Word’s Track Changes feature can help you do that.

You’ll remember the trust Track Changes toolbar from our other LegalOfficeGuru tutorials:

Track Changes Toolbar in Word 2002

See that button about 2/3 of the way over to the right that looks like a sticky note?  That’s the Insert Comment button.

Comment button from Track Changes toolbar

Just place your cursor where you want to insert the comment, click the drop-down next to the Comment button, and choose New Comment.  You’ll get a balloon out to the side – just start typing your comment there, and click outside of it when you’re finished.

What you’ll end up with looks like this:

Comment in a Word document

Notice, too, that this same button allows you to edit previous comments and delete them.  And there’s even an option for a voice comment too, if anybody’s inclined to do that.

As with everything to do with Track Changes, be sure you’ve removed all comments before sending a document via email (unless you’re distributing it for someone to review the comments).  If you have any questions about ensuring that no tracked changes or comments are saved in documents being distributed outside your firm, please contact your firm’s systems administrator or IT person.


For more information about Track Changes, see also:

Automatically marking document edits with Track Changes

Showing, hiding and printing tracked changes

Reviewing, accepting and rejecting others’ changes in Track Changes

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