Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Showing Only Added Text with Track Changes.

Showing Only Added Text with Track Changes

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 11, 2020)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021


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When working with Track Changes while editing a document, you may want to configure Word so that you see only the text you are adding and that any text you delete is simply hidden. You can accomplish this by following these steps if you are using Word 2019 or Word in Office 365:

  1. Display the Review tab of the ribbon.
  2. Click the small icon in the lower-right corner of the Tracking group. (This is the Change Tracking Options tool.) Word displays the Track Changes Options dialog box.
  3. Click the Advanced Options button. Word displays the Advanced Track Changes Options dialog box. (See Figure 1.)
  4. Figure 1. The Advanced Track Changes Options dialog box.

  5. Using the Deletions drop-down list, choose Hidden.
  6. Click OK to close the Advanced Track Changes Options dialog box.
  7. Click OK to close the Track Changes Options dialog box.

If you are using Word 2013 or Word 2016 then the steps are a bit different:

  1. Display the Review tab of the ribbon.
  2. In the Tracking group, click the down-arrow by the Track Changes tool.
  3. Choose Change Tracking Options. Word displays the Track Changes Options dialog box.
  4. Click the Advanced Options button. Word displays the Advanced Track Changes Options dialog box.
  5. Using the Deletions drop-down list, choose Hidden.
  6. Click OK to close the Advanced Track Changes Options dialog box.
  7. Click OK to close the Track Changes Options dialog box.

Follow these steps if you are using Word 2007 or Word 2010:

  1. Display the Review tab of the ribbon.
  2. In the Tracking group, click the down-arrow under the Track Changes tool.
  3. Choose Change Tracking Options. Word displays the Track Changes Options dialog box. (See Figure 2.)
  4. Figure 2. The Track Changes Options dialog box.

  5. Using the Deletions drop-down list, choose Hidden.
  6. Click OK.

That's it; Word will now show your additions to the document but hide anything you delete. For some types of editing this can result in a much easier-to-understand document.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (8340) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Showing Only Added Text with Track Changes.

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. ...

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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.

What is 7 - 7?

2020-01-13 16:18:38

Caran

Joan, I think you need to find the style Comment Text and modify it to be a larger size. You might have to search for a hidden style if Comment Text style isn't in the list of styles.


2020-01-13 09:01:57

Joan D'Angelo

Is there a way to increase the size of comments only when using track changes/ When printing, the comments appear way smaller than the document and are difficult to read. Thank you.


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