Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 3, 2022)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365
Jason notes that Track Changes indicates the move of a sentence or paragraph from one location to another in a document with the usual green double underline/strikethrough. It will not, however, show the move of a word or phrase. He wonders if there is any way to show the usual move coloration or other indicator without using a macro. (Jason's company has disabled macro access.) There will be many moves of words, so manually changing the color or highlighting would be more effort than desirable.
The short answer is no, as Word will only note the movement of entire sentences. This does, however, lead to a potential workaround—you might be able to "trick" Word into thinking that you are moving a sentence. Place a sentence-terminating punctuation mark after the phrase you want to move, then move it, and finally remove the punctuation marks. If Word falls for your trickery, you'll have the movement mark-up that you desire.
Of course, this is a bit of work to do, and it may be more work than you want to engage in for the desired outcome. That is a decision you'll need to make, however, as it is the only non-macro workaround that we could come up with. Plus, you should understand that the workaround may not work at all if adding the punctuation mark still doesn't convince Word that you are moving a sentence.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (12997) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365.
Discover the Power of Microsoft Office This beginner-friendly guide reveals the expert tips and strategies you need to skyrocket your productivity and use Office 365 like a pro. Mastering software like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is essential to be more efficient and advance your career. Simple lessons guide you through every step, providing the knowledge you need to get started. Check out Microsoft Office 365 For Beginners today!
Word includes a feature that allows you to track changes made to a document. One of the ways in which Word marks your ...
Discover MoreDo you want to modify how Word marks changes in your document? It's easy to do, if you know where to look.
Discover MoreWhen you have Track Changes turned on for a document, Word remembers which editor made which changes. If this behavior ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
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