Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated February 1, 2020)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
If you are like me, when you write you make notes to yourself so you don't forget parts of the manuscript that may need more work or so you can jog your memory. Hidden text is great for this purpose, because you can hide your notes at any time so that others don't see them on the screen or in a printout.
I found that I added enough notes that I wanted to create a macro that would insert a paragraph prior to the one in which I am working, and then format the paragraph as hidden text so I can enter my note. The result is the AddNote macro, which creates a red-text hidden paragraph:
Sub AddNote() Selection.MoveDown Unit:=wdParagraph, Count:=1 Selection.MoveUp Unit:=wdParagraph, Count:=1 Selection.TypeParagraph Selection.MoveLeft Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1 Selection.Style = ActiveDocument.Styles("Normal") With Selection.Font .Name = "Arial" .Size = 11 .Bold = True .Italic = False .Underline = wdUnderlineNone .StrikeThrough = False .DoubleStrikeThrough = False .Outline = False .Emboss = False .Shadow = False .Hidden = True .SmallCaps = False .AllCaps = False .ColorIndex = wdRed .Engrave = False .Superscript = False .Subscript = False .Spacing = 0 .Scaling = 100 .Position = 0 .Kerning = 0 .Animation = wdAnimationNone End With Selection.TypeText Text:="Note: " End Sub
I assign this macro to a toolbar button and then it is available with just a click.
Note:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (30) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Talking to Yourself.
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!
Pasting 'plain text" into a document is one of the most common ways of pasting information. Wouldn't it be great if this ...
Discover MoreMy fat fingers sometimes result in typing letters in the wrong order. Here's a quick tool that allows you to easily ...
Discover MoreThere are lots of little "gotchas" that can make the difference between a finished document and a polished document. One ...
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 menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon 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