Showing Only Added Text with Track Changes

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.)



Figure 1. The Advanced Track Changes Options dialog box.

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



Figure 2. The Track Changes Options dialog box.

4. Using the Deletions drop-down list, choose Hidden.
5. 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.