Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. 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

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated August 22, 2017)

4

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 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 1.)

    4. Figure 1. The Track Changes Options dialog box.

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

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

  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.
  4. Click the Advanced Options button. Word displays the Advanced Track Changes Options dialog box. (See Figure 2.)

    5. Figure 2. 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.

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, and 2013. 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}] 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 four less than 8?

2017-09-14 22:38:31

Laura Billington

Hi,

Is there any way to stop track changes in Word (O365 version, not sure what year any more) from displaying the whole paragraph in the right border when I've only deleted a couple of words? It's extremely messy. I don't want to hide the deletions, but just show the deleted words like it used to show in previous versions.

Thanks,
Laura.

2015-06-12 16:06:31

Steve

In Word 2013, how do I get it to show the insertions inline, and deletions in the balloons (like previous versions)? I don't want to see insertions in the balloons (which makes them useless).

2013-11-13 18:30:09

Ram

Useful tip. Thank you!

2013-10-14 13:58:54

Miguel Angel Rivera

Very good and useful tip, thank you.

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