To print a Word document in Simple Markup, go to the Review tab and choose Simple Markup in the Display for Review box (in the Tracking group). Then click File > Print, open the first box under Settings (usually Print All Pages), make sure Print Markup is checked, and click Print. Word prints the markup the way the current view shows it, so Simple Markup gives you the edited text with red lines in the margin marking changed lines, instead of every insertion and deletion in color.
This guide explains the four markup views, exactly what each prints, how to include or leave out comments, how to print a clean copy with no markup, and how to fix common problems such as comments shrinking the page. Steps are for Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2021, 2019, 2016, and 2013 on Windows, with notes for Mac.
The four markup views
| View | What you see on screen | What prints with Print Markup on |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Markup | The document with changes applied, red bars in the margin next to changed lines, and comment icons or balloons | The edited text with change bars; comments may print in balloons depending on your settings |
| All Markup | Every insertion, deletion, and formatting change in color, plus comment balloons | Full tracked changes and comments |
| No Markup | What the document would look like if all changes were accepted | A clean copy with no markup |
| Original | The document before any tracked changes | The original text with no markup |
Step 1: Switch to Simple Markup
- Open the document and click the Review tab.
- In the Tracking group, open the Display for Review dropdown (it may say All Markup).
- Choose Simple Markup.
You can also click a red change bar in the left margin to toggle between Simple Markup and All Markup.
Step 2: Print with markup
- Click File > Print (or press Ctrl + P).
- Under Settings, click the first box (it usually says Print All Pages).
- Under Document Info, make sure Print Markup has a check mark. Click it to turn it on if it doesn’t.
- Check the preview on the right, choose your printer, and click Print.
The print preview is the best way to confirm what will print. If it shows more (or less) markup than you expect, go back to the Review tab and change the view before printing.
Choose whether comments print
- On the Review tab, click Show Markup in the Tracking group.
- Check or uncheck Comments. You can also turn off Insertions and Deletions, Formatting, or specific reviewers under Specific People.
- Under Show Markup > Balloons, choose Show Revisions in Balloons, Show All Revisions Inline, or Show Only Formatting in Balloons.
When comment balloons print, Word shrinks the page to make room for a markup area on the right. Choose Show All Revisions Inline or turn off comments if you want full-size pages.
Print a clean copy without markup
- Option 1 – in File > Print > Settings, uncheck Print Markup.
- Option 2 – on the Review tab, choose No Markup, then print.
Neither option accepts the changes; they’re still in the file. To remove them permanently, click Accept > Accept All Changes and delete comments with Delete > Delete All Comments in Document.
Print only the list of changes
In File > Print > Settings, choose List of Markup under Document Info. Word prints a list of every change and comment with the reviewer’s name and the page it’s on.
Save Simple Markup as a PDF
Choose Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer in File > Print with Print Markup checked, or use File > Save As > PDF, click Options, and under Publish what choose Document showing markup.
Word for Mac
- On the Review tab, choose Simple Markup from the markup dropdown.
- Click File > Print. In the print dialog, open the section for Microsoft Word settings (click Show Details if needed).
- Check Print Markup and click Print.
Troubleshooting
- All the changes still print in color – you’re in All Markup. Switch to Simple Markup on the Review tab.
- No change bars print – make sure Print Markup is checked, and that the document has tracked changes.
- Pages print smaller than normal – comment balloons are shrinking them. Hide comments or show revisions inline.
- The option is grayed out – the document may be open in Protected View. Click Enable Editing first.
Frequently asked questions
Does printing in Simple Markup accept the changes?
No. It only affects how the document looks on screen and on paper. The tracked changes stay in the file until you accept or reject them.
Can I print just the comments?
Use List of Markup and, in Show Markup, uncheck everything except Comments before printing.
Why don’t I see Simple Markup in older Word versions?
Simple Markup was added in Word 2013. Word 2010 and earlier use different view names, such as Final Showing Markup.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.