Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2002 and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Showing Only Added Text with Track Changes.

Showing Only Added Text with Track Changes

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 11, 2021)
This tip applies to Word 2002 and 2003


1

Part of the changes introduced in Word 2002 involved a different way to deal with showing edits (changes) in a document. The Track Changes system was significantly changed, and the changes caused Word users to learn new ways to do some things.

In older versions of Word, you could easily specify that deleted text be "hidden," meaning that it wouldn't show in the edited document. (You did this by choosing Tools | Options and on the Track Changes tab setting the Mark drop-down list for deleted text to Hidden.) This was handy, as you could easily cause Word to mark any additions to the document and hide any deletions.

Because of the changes in Word 2002, you cannot specify how you want deleted text to appear. Instead, Word shows deleted text either as text with a line through it (if balloons are turned off) or it is hidden (if balloons are turned on). There is no way to both turn off the balloons and hide the deleted text.

There is, however, a compromise approach you can try. Follow these steps if you are using Word 2002:

  1. Choose Options from the Tools menu. Word displays the Options dialog box.
  2. Make sure the Track Changes tab is displayed.
  3. Clear the Use Balloons in Print and Web Layout check box.
  4. Click on OK.
  5. On the Reviewing toolbar, select Final Showing Markup in the Display for Review drop-down list.
  6. On the Reviewing toolbar, click Show and then Insertions and Deletions.

This series of steps hides the deletions on the screen, but it also shows any additions without any "change" notation. Thus, your additions appear as they would in the final document, and the deletions are hidden. This is not the same as in previous versions of Word, where additions would be noted, but it has the benefit of hiding deleted text.

Fortunately, Word 2003 restores the ability to control how deletions are shown, independent of how additions are shown. If you choose Options from the Tools menu, and then display the Track Changes tab, you will see that it includes a Deletions drop-down list. You can choose Hidden in this drop-down list to control the display of changes as you would have in versions prior to Word 2002.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (8335) applies to Microsoft Word 2002 and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Showing Only Added Text with Track Changes.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Showing Text Boundaries for Pages, not for Paragraphs

Word allows you to configure how your document is displayed rather extensively. One configuration that has been around ...

Discover More

Nifty Zooming

If you are using a mouse that has a center wheel, you can use the wheel to zoom in and out of your work. This tip shows ...

Discover More

Sorting ZIP Codes

Sorting ZIP Codes can be painless, provided all the codes are formatted the same. Here's how to do the sorting if you ...

Discover More

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!

More WordTips (menu)

Making Sure Changes and Comments are Anonymous

When using Track Changes, Word normally notes the originator of a particular comment or change. This information can then ...

Discover More

Using Different Colors with Tracked Changes

When changes are made in a document with Track Changes turned on, each author's changes are normally shown in a different ...

Discover More

Protecting Tracked Changes

Track Changes is a great tool for editors and collaborators to use when creating documents. An author, seeking changes ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is four less than 4?

2016-11-24 13:18:24

Eddie

How do you print the compared document showing both the added and deleted text?
Looks perfect on the screen with the deleted text highlighted and struck through but when I print the deletions are not shown!


This Site

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.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.