Specifying How Changes are Marked

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated November 24, 2022)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021

Linda prefers to mark changes in her documents (when she turns on Track Changes) with only a vertical bar at the side of the text. This is not the default method for marking changes, so Linda is wondering how she can make the necessary configuration changes so the markup appears as she wants.

This can easily be done by using the Change Tracking Options dialog box. Here are the steps to follow:

Display the Review tab of the ribbon.
If you are using Word 2007 or Word 2010, click the down-arrow under the Track Changes tool in the Tracking group. Word displays a list of options. Choose Change Tracking Options. Word displays the Track Changes Options dialog box. Skip to step 5.
If you are using Word 2013 click the icon in the bottom-right corner of the Tracking group. Choose Advanced Options. Word displays the Advanced Track Changes Options dialog box. Skip to step 5.
If you are using Word 2016 or a later version click the Tracking tool and then click the icon in the bottom-right corner of the Tracking group. Choose Advanced Options. Word displays the Advanced Track Changes Options dialog box. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The Track Changes Options dialog box.

Near the top of the dialog box, use the Insertions drop-down list to choose (none).
Use the Deletions drop-down list to choose either (none) or Hidden.
Use the Changed Lines drop-down list to choose any of the options except (none). (Outside Border is a good choice.)
Click OK.

That's it. Your change marking should be just like you preferred it in older versions of Word.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (6091) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Reloading Building Blocks

Building Blocks can be a powerful tool for document creation in Word. Saving your Building Blocks and reloading them into ...

Discover More

Determining a Column Width

When laying out your document, you may wonder what width you should use for your text. An old typographers’ trick may ...

Discover More

Comments Don't Appear when Cell is Pointed To

One way that you can view comments in a worksheet is to have them appear when you hover the mouse pointer over a cell. If ...

Discover More

Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 365 applications with VBA programming. Written in clear terms and understandable language, the book includes systematic tutorials and contains both intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers. Designed to be comprehensive, the book addresses not just one Office application, but the entire Office suite. Check out Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 365 today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Resolving Tracked Changes in Footnotes or Endnotes

Track Changes is a great tool that can aid in developing a document. If you have footnotes or endnotes in a document that ...

Discover More

Turning Track Changes Off for Selected Areas

Track Changes is a great tool to use so that you can, well, "track" what changes are made during the development of a ...

Discover More

Getting a Warning for Markup

Many people, when collaborating on a document with others, use the Track Changes feature to show the effects of their ...

Discover More

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

Notify me about new comments ONLY FOR THIS TIP

Notify me about new comments ANYWHERE ON THIS SITE

Hide my email address

What is five minus 1?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)

This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.