Using Track Changes

Track Changes will allow you to easily enter suggested changes into documents written by others.  However, this feature in Word needs a few adjustments to its default settings in order to make the display clear and more readable.

The steps for the adjustments differ according to the version of Word that you are using.  If you don't already know which version, open Word.  On a PC, if you see a small Question Mark in the upper right corner, you have Word 2007 or 2010 and you can click on the mark to identify the version.  If instead, you see a menu choice named Help, click on it, then About Microsoft Office Word.  The version information will be at the top. 

For your own computer, these steps need be done only once.  Your computer will remember them for future use.

Preparing Track Changes

• If you use Word 2010
• If you use Word 2007
• If you use Word 2003 (XP)
• Adding Feedback

If you are using a word-processing program other than Word, that's fine for writing your papers and exercises.  However, to add feedback, please use our class standard, which is Word.    Word is generally available at campus and public computer labs, and student pricing for your own copy from OU's Tech Depot is a bargain.

 

 

 

 

 

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PREPARING TRACK CHANGES: If you use Word 2010

1. In Word, click the Review tab at the top, then click on the words "Track Changes"
    
2. Click on Change Tracking Options

• for Insertions, confirm the choice is "Underline" and change the color to Blue
• for Deletions, confirm the choice is "Strikethrough" and change the color to Red
• for Changed lines, change the choice to (none)
• for Use Balloons, change the choice to Never
• for Track formatting, change the choice to (none)
• click on OK

3. Click on the File tab at the top, then Options, then Advanced.  Look for "When selecting, automatically select entire word."  If there is a checkmark there, remove it and click OK.
    
4. To turn Track Changes on or off at any time, click the Review tab at the top, then click on the icon ABOVE the words "Track Changes"

5. You can switch back and forth between two views of the document (you'll see a box under the Review tab that lists the current view) -- try "Final: Showing Markup", and "Original"
    
6. Please don’t use the "New comment" feature (it’s not compatible with some versions of Word)

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PREPARING TRACK CHANGES: If you use Word 2007

1. In Word, click the Review tab at the top, then click on the words "Track Changes"
    
2. Click on Change Tracking Options

• for Insertions, confirm the choice is "Underline" and change the color to Blue
• for Deletions, confirm the choice is "Strikethrough" and change the color to Red
• for Changed lines, change the choice to (none)
• for Use Balloons, change the choice to Never
• for Track formatting, change the choice to (none)
• click on OK

3. Click on the Office button (large, in the upper left corner), then Word Options, then Advanced.  Look for "When selecting, automatically select entire word."  If there is a checkmark there, remove it and click OK.
    
4. To turn Track Changes on or off at any time, click the Review tab at the top, then click on the icon ABOVE the words "Track Changes"

5. You can switch back and forth between two views of the document (you'll see a box under the Review tab that lists the current view) -- try "Final Showing Markup", and "Original"
    
6. Please don’t use the "New comment" feature (it’s not compatible with some versions of Word)

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ADDING FEEDBACK

Make changes to the paper you want to give feedback on, directly in the document