Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 6, 2024)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, and 2013
When you add a comment to a document, Word displays that comment in any number of ways, depending on how you have Word configured to display comments. Common to all comments, however, is the effort by Word to display them in a plain, straightforward manner. If you want to get a bit more fancy with your comments, there are a couple of things you can do.
First, you can format the text in a comment in the same manner that you format regular text. All you need to do is select the text and then use the regular tools on the ribbon to apply different attributes such as bold or italic. You can also right-click any selected text and choose Font from the Context menu in order to make more detailed changes.
Another thing to remember is that the base formatting used for comments is controlled by a group of pre-defined Word styles:
Change these styles and the formatting of all your comments are changed accordingly. (There is also a built-in style called Comment Subject, but it is unclear how Word uses this style.)
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (9172) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, and 2013. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Formatting Comments.
Do More in Less Time! An easy-to-understand guide to the more advanced features available in the Microsoft 365 version of Word. Enhance the quality of your documents and boost productivity in any field with this in-depth resource. Complete your Word-related tasks more efficiently as you unlock lesser-known tools and learn to quickly access the features you need. Check out Microsoft 365 Word For Professionals For Dummies today!
Select some text in a document, and Word automatically places an "add comment" icon in the right margin. If you want to ...
Discover MoreWord makes it easy to calculate the number of words in a document. If you want to count words only in your comments, then ...
Discover MoreWhen developing a document, you may end up with all sorts of comments that you need to deal with. One common task is to ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2022-04-16 10:23:01
Greg
Some comment boxes are generated by Word. For example, when you center a header, Word places a comment that says "Formatted: Centered". Is there a way to add text to these auto-generated comments?
2021-10-08 10:56:26
Watt
Can you format the PARAGRAPHS in a comment balloon? I can open the Paragraph format dialog box, but changes like Spacing Before and Spacing After are not reflected in the comment balloon itself. I don't want to change the whole Style, just occasional individual comments.
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.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments