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

Shifting Objects Off a Sheet

One day you are just editing your worksheet like you normally do, then you see an error that says "Cannot shift object ...

Discover More

Changing Strikethrough Lines

Want to change the way a strikethrough line appears? It's not as easy as you think, as you find out in this tip.

Discover More

Choosing How to Use Multiple Monitors

Do you have multiple monitors (or a projector) hooked up to your system? Here's how to utilize that second display device ...

Discover More

The First and Last Word on Word! Bestselling For Dummies author Dan Gookin puts his usual fun and friendly candor back to work to show you how to navigate Word 2013. Spend more time working and less time trying to figure it all out! Check out Word 2013 For Dummies today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

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

Word Tracks Changes to Changes

When you have Track Changes turned on for a document, Word remembers which editor made which changes. If this behavior ...

Discover More

Tracked Changes Won't Go Away

Track Changes is a great tool when editing a document, but the ways that it affects your document can sometimes be ...

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 six minus 4?

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.