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 Word in Microsoft 365

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 Word in Microsoft 365.

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

Talking to Yourself

Need to keep notes about a document, but you don't want others to see those notes either on-screen or on-paper? Here's an ...

Discover More

Sequentially Numbering Elements in Your Document

One of the most powerful and useful fields provided by Word is the SEQ field. This tip describes how you can use the ...

Discover More

Chopped Off Page Borders

Tired of your page borders not printing out as you expect? The problem could be due to any number of settings or ...

Discover More

Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2013. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word 2013 Step by Step today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Turning Off Track Changes Change Bars

Word includes a feature that allows you to track changes made to a document. One of the ways in which Word marks your ...

Discover More

Showing Only Added Text with Track Changes

Do you want to change how Track Changes displays the markup in your document? Here's how you can completely hide deleted ...

Discover More

Rejecting Changes in a Document

When a group of people edits a document with Track Changes turned on, it can be tempting for one of the editors to use ...

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 two more than 7?

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.