Use Word's Track Change Feature
Occasionally, time does not allow you to send your manuscripts back and forth via campus mail for review. Using the Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word is a good way to edit manuscripts, especially when you need multiple reviewers. Each reviewer will appear in a different color, so you know who suggested what!
Turn On Word's Track Changes Feature
- Open a document in Word.
- Click on "Tools" and then "Track Changes"--this will turn the feature on; this is also how you turn the feature off. You will then have the Reviewing Toolbar available.
- To change the settings of your Track Changes feature, go to "Tools," click on "Options," and then select the "Track Changes" tab. Here you can change the mark up (colors, underline, strikethrough, etc.), select whether to use balloons, and choose to print with or without balloons.
- Click "OK" to save your selections and exit the menu.
View Changes and Make Changes
To view changes and make your own changes to someone else's document, do the following:
- Open Word
- Go to "Tools" and then click on "Track Changes" (to make sure the feature is turned on)
- Make sure to have all of the following checked under "Show": (on the Reviewing Toolbar
- Comments
- Insertions and Deletions
- Formatting
Then you will be able to see all tracked changes. You will also be able to make your own changes and corrections in a different color (your changes will automatically be a different color than the other reviewers' changes).
Accept or Reject Changes
You may also choose to accept or reject these tracked changes. To do so:
- Click on the change to select it.
- Right click to see options ("Accept Change" and "Delete Change").
- Click on the option you want. To place the Track Changes icon on your toolbar, go to "View," click on "Toolbars," and then select "Reviewing." This will place icons on your toolbar that allow you to turn the feature on or off or reject or accept changes.
- You also have the option of accepting all changes or rejecting all changes. To do either of these, you need to click on the down arrow next to each icon on the Reviewing Toolbar and select Accept All or Reject All
