August 30, 2015

How to Track Changes in Microsoft Word 2003

Step 1:
Open your document using Microsoft Word. If you do not see the Accept or Reject Changes… button on your toolbar, follow the next 7 steps.

Step1

Step 2:
Click on the View menu, point to Toolbars, and then click Reviewing.

Step2

Microsoft 365 Personal | 12-Month Subscription, 1 person | Word, Excel, PowerPoint | 1TB OneDrive cloud storage | PC/Mac Instant Download | Activation Required Subscription (PC/Mac) Microsoft 365 Personal Subscription – 12months
  • With a Microsoft 365 12‑month subscription, you can create, organize, and get things done.
  • Bring out your best with premium Office apps, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
  • Easily access, edit, and share files and photos across all devices with 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage.
  • Keep it all together with Outlook, an ad‑free app for your email, calendars, to‑do lists and contacts plus security tools that keep your information protected.
  • Protect your files with advanced security features like built‑in ransomware detection and recovery, and you can use two‑step identity verification to access your most important files in OneDrive Personal Vault.

Step 3:
Notice that the Reviewing toolbar appears. In this picture, it is circled in blue. In this example, the Track Changes icon is illuminated trackchanges_editing_on. You will need to turn this feature off before you proceed. If you do not turn this feature off, all of the revisions that you make to your document will be tracked on the right-hand side of the document.

Step3

Step 4:
Once you click on the Track Changes button, the icon is no longer illuminated trackchanges_editing_off.

Step4

Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021 | Classic Apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint | One-Time purchase for 1 PC/MAC | Instant Download Download (PC/Mac) Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021 One-Time Purchase
  • Essentials for productivity: Office Home and Student 2021.
  • Classic Office apps: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
  • Compatible with Windows 11, Windows 10, MAC.
  • Ideal for students, perfect for home or school use.
  • No subscription required.

Step 5:
Click on the drop-down arrow drop_down_arrow, next to the Reviewing Pane icon reviewing_page (circled in red in the image below). Point your cursor to Reviewing, and turn on the Accept or Reject Changes… feature. In this example, it is circled in blue.

Step5

Step 6:
Notice that the Accept or Reject Changes… button, circled in blue, is now present.

Step6

Step 7:
Click on the new button to open the Accept or Reject Changes… reviewing pane.

Step7

*Tips:
Click on Accept; Microsoft Word will accept the proposed change. If the change was a deletion, Word removes the text and the revision marks. Also, Word removes the callout and the change information from the Reviewing Pane. If the change was an addition, Word adds the text and removes the revision marks. Word also removes the change information from the Reviewing Pane.

Click on Reject; Word will reject the proposed change. Word restores your text to the way it was before the insertion or deletion and removes the callout. Word also removes the change information from the Reviewing Pane.

Clicking on Accept All will cause Word to accept all proposed changes. You will still need to remove the editor comments individually.

As part of our dedication to providing you with comprehensive editing resources, we include affiliate links to selected word processing tools. If you decide to make a purchase through these links, we earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This arrangement helps support our efforts in delivering valuable content and insights to enhance your career, in compliance with FTC guidelines. Please be assured that our recommendations are based on thorough research and the genuine value these tools offer to our audience.