Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated July 27, 2016)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
If you use the Track Changes feature of Word, you know how your document looks as you make changes. Added text is shown in some different color, and deleted text is shown with a strikethrough or in balloons to the side of your text. You may want to change how Word shows your changed text. Fortunately, Word allows you great flexibility in this area. To make your configuration changes, follow these steps:
Figure 1. The Track Changes tab of the Options dialog box.
In Word 97 and Word 2000, the Track Changes tab allows you to specify four different ways in which changes can be tracked:
In Word 2002 and Word 2003 the options available on the Track Changes tab are a bit different:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (40) 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: Changing How Changes are Noted in Word.
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2022-07-17 07:53:03
Susan S
Hi, I work all day and every day in Word as an editor. So I am familiar with track changes. However, I've received some documents from a client in which the track change function is completely wonky. My settings are the same as for other documents. But when I add text now during the editing, my new text shows up in a different color and underlined (that's normal). But when I change my mind and go to delete that newly added text, it acts like text added when the review function is off -- that is, there is a strikethrough line on my track change-added text instead of my track change-added text simply being deleted. I end up with a document with my added text or changes in one color, my added text that I then tried to delete in a different color and with a strikethrough and the original document text in black. The only way to get rid of this is to "accept deletion" and then the new text that I wanted to get rid of is finally gone. This adds an enormous amount of work to what is a simple operation on other documents. Any thoughts?
2016-09-21 18:28:44
Melissa Kinsey
In Word 2016 for Mac, go to the Review tab. Click Protect>Protect Document and uncheck "Remove personal information from this file on save." This option may be selected even if your document isn't otherwise protected.
2016-09-14 20:49:44
Dave
CaptOnWater's fix didn't work for me on Word 2016.
2016-03-03 15:58:39
CaptOnWater
I found the solution.
1. In Word 2013 Ribbon, go to Review tab
2. In Tracking section click the "Change Tracking Options" arrow in the lower right corner
3. Click Advanced Options
4. For Deletions, "Strikethrough" in the dropdown
5. Click OK
6. Click OK
Now deletions will appear as strikethrough.
If not:
A. check the Tracking section to ensure you have "All Markup" selected,
B. and for "Show Markup" that "Insertions and Deletions" are checked.
2015-10-26 09:19:44
Dan Leveille
Same problems as Mary. That is why I am searching for ways to make track changes work the way they used to. I suspect it is a Microsoft failure to anticipate backwards compatibility between their software upgrades and my mind.
2015-05-12 17:31:29
Mary Wilson
Have checked all Track Changes Advanced Options settings. Have "Strikethrough" checked for deletions, but it doesn't show on my screen--it just takes out the word/letters.
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