To redline a document in Microsoft Word, turn on Track Changes: go to the Review tab and click Track Changes, or press Ctrl + Shift + E. From then on, Word marks every edit. New text is underlined in color, deleted text is struck through, and a line in the margin flags each changed line. Set the view to All Markup to see the full redline. When you’re done, others can review each change and Accept or Reject it.
How to redline a Word document
- Open the document and click the Review tab.
- Click Track Changes so it’s highlighted (or press Ctrl + Shift + E).
- In the Display for Review box, choose All Markup.
- Make your edits normally. Type new text, delete words, and change formatting.
- Add explanations with New Comment where needed.
- Save and send the document.
Choose how the redline looks
- Simple Markup: Shows a clean document with red lines in the margin where changes are.
- All Markup: Shows every insertion and deletion inline. This is the classic redline.
- No Markup: Shows what the document looks like with all changes accepted.
- Original: Shows the document before any tracked changes.
To show deletions inline instead of in balloons, click Show Markup > Balloons > Show All Revisions Inline. To change colors, click the small arrow in the Tracking group and choose Advanced Options.
Set your name for the changes
Word labels each change with the author’s name. To set yours, go to File > Options > General and enter your User name and Initials. If you’re signed in with a Microsoft account, check Always use these values regardless of sign in to Office.
Lock Track Changes so others can’t turn it off
- Click the arrow under Track Changes and choose Lock Tracking.
- Enter a password (optional) and click OK.
Accept or reject the redlines
- On the Review tab, click Next to jump to the first change.
- Click Accept or Reject. Word moves to the next change.
- To finish everything at once, click the arrow under Accept and choose Accept All Changes.
Redline after the fact with Compare
If someone edited a copy without Track Changes, create a redline by comparing the two versions: Review > Compare > Compare, then choose the original and revised files. See how to compare two documents in Word.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between redlining and track changes?
They’re the same idea. “Redlining” is the traditional legal and business term. In Word, you create a redline with Track Changes.
How do I print a redlined document?
Set the view to All Markup, then in File > Print, make sure Print Markup is checked.
How do I send a clean copy without redlines?
Accept or reject all changes, delete comments, and save as a new file or PDF.
Can I redline in Word for the web?
Yes. In Word for the web, click Review > Track Changes and choose For Everyone or Just Mine.
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.