How to Delete Comments in Word
The ability to leave comments on a Word document is essential when collaborating with others on the file, but eventually, those comments must be removed or dealt with. In Microsoft Word , either delete the comments or resolve the comments. Deleting a comment removes it from the document forever. Resolving a comment marks it as finished but leaves a record of the comment. If you’re using a version of Word older than Word 2016, comments can only be deleted. When you are finished with a comment and want to delete it, select it and click the Review tab in the ribbon at the top of the screen. In the Review tab, click Delete. In Office 2016 and Microsoft 365, you can also right-click a comment as select Delete Comment from the context menu. Older versions of Word will only allow deletion from the Review tab. Regardless of the method, both have the same function. Comments can also be deleted in bulk. Click the Review tab on the ribbon, then click the disclosure triangle next to the Delete icon. In that menu, select Delete All Comments Shown or Delete All Comments in Document.
Resolving Comments in Word
Resolving comments in only available in Microsoft Word 2019, 2016, Microsoft 365, and Word for Mac. Older versions of Word are limited to deleting comments only. If you have a choice, it’s better to resolve comments. Resolving a comment allows you to mark the comment as finished. This approach helps the original writer better track what’s been changed and helps the reviewer see how recommended changes were implemented. When you resolve a comment in Word, a record of the comment is preserved. Resolving comments takes action on the deletion request, but does not remove the text of the comment from the document. To resolve a comment, chose the comment you want to resolve. Select the Review tab on the ribbon. Select the Resolve button. For Office Online, comments are resolved by clicking the three dots in the upper corner of the comment and clicking Resolve Thread. When you resolve a comment, its color fades, but it still appears in the markup area. To reverse the resolution, select the comment again and select the Resolve button in the Review ribbon. This setting toggles the resolved status off. To step through several comments and act on each separately, use the Previous and Next buttons adjacent to the Resolve button.
Should I Delete or Resolve Comments?
If you’ve received a document with comments from another person, preserve a record of the comments. With that paper trail, you’ll verify that all changes requested have been addressed and that you haven’t accidentally skipped an important point. When you’ve made your own comments for your own purposes, deleting them is likely the better option. A deleted comment simply vanishes. That’s best when you’ve changed your mind on a comment, or you want to change the text point that the comment is anchored to.
