Andree-Jeanne has a problem with switching off markup and Track Changes. She switches them off and saves the document without all the marks in her document, but when she opens the document again, there they are again. Even when Andree-Jeanne sends it by e-mail without marks, it opens full of markup and tracking marks.
There are two things to keep in mind in relation to markup in a document. ("Markup" is a generic term that refers, among other things, to Track Changes marks and comments added to the document.) The first thing is that markup can be displayed or hidden. The second thing to remember is that hiding markup isn't the same as getting rid of markup. Let me explain...
Markup is added in two general ways, using tools available on the Review tab of the ribbon. You can use the New Comment tool to add comments to the document and you can use the Track Changes tool to start keeping track of any editing or formatting changes.
Most people control what markup is displayed in a document by using the Show Markup drop-down list on the Review tab (in the Tracking group). You can also control what markup is displayed by clicking the small icon at the bottom-right of the Tracking group, which displays the Track Changes Options dialog box. (See Figure 1.)
Figure 1. The Track Changes Options dialog box.
You can also turn off the display of markup by using the Display for Review drop-down list, which is in the Tracking group, right above the Show Markup drop-down list. Using the Display for Review drop-down list, choose either No Markup or Original Document, and the markup all disappears.
Which brings us to the second thing to keep in mind relative to markup: Hiding markup isn't the same as getting rid of markup. All the things I've discussed so far only hide markup by changing what is displayed. The markup—all your tracked changes and all your comments—are still there, even though you cannot see them. Thus, when you later open the document or someone else opens the document, they can see all that markup.
If you want to actually get rid of markup, there is only one way to do it, and it involves two steps:
You do the first step so that future edits and formatting changes aren't tracked. The second step is done so that you can get rid of changes you previously tracked. It is this second step that can also take the most time, depending on how you do it. The normal method involves evaluating each tracked change and letting Word know if you want to make that change permanent or not:
If the above seems too tedious or if you know that you agree with all of the edits in the document, you can simply click the down-arrow on the Accept tool and choose Accept All Changes.
At this point, all the markup in the document should be gone, and it will no longer appear the next time you open the document.
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2018-10-18 20:17:07
Stuart
I appreciate your tips. Quick question building on this. I sent a finished file to a 3rd party, but they are seeing the hidden markup text (formatting etc). I have gone to Trust Center and changed that setting but my understanding is that only impacts my specific computer. Is there a way to make it so I can send a document to a client and not have those show up if the person who originally created the file was tracking changes? Thanks for your help!
2018-10-03 17:25:22
Beth Karberg
I have a document that has vertical lines at the right margin, presumably noting where previously tracked changes were made. If I click on Accept All Changes, I get a box telling me that their are no tracked changes or comments in the document. So how do I get rid of those lines?
2016-07-06 18:13:31
Jason
How do I "permanently" turn off showing formatting in balloons? In Word 2010 have unchecked the "Track formatting" box in Track Change Options, and have unchecked Formatting in the "Show Markup" dropdown in the toolbar. But, still, every time I make a formatting change, e.g., bold, etc., the formatting balloons come back on. I need to show comments in balloons, and I need to show Track Changes. I just want to get rid of the balloons showing formatting. Thanks.
2016-07-06 09:25:53
Ms. Shelton
Great tip, Allen! I plan to share your helpful advice with the students I work with! The only additional piece I would add to this explanation is to acknowledge the comments as well. Resolving the Track Changes does nothing to remove the comments from the document, which must likewise be addressed and deleted, one by one. Using the Comments tools also located in the Review tool bar can be useful in this endeavor!
Ms. Shelton
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