What are comments in Word and how do you use them?
Quick answer
A comment is a note attached to a selected word, sentence or cell in a document, shown beside the text and not printed in the body. In Word you add one from Review, then New Comment, and colleagues can reply, be @mentioned or resolve it.
Last updated
Take the free module →Module 3 of the free Excel and Word for the Web Jump Start course, about 12 minutes. No account needed.
Updated · By Robert Breen
Why it matters for a small business
Questions about a document usually travel by separate email: "Is the date on page one right?" The answer then lives somewhere else, and the document can go out before anyone checks. A comment keeps the question next to the exact words it is about, so whoever reviews the document sees it in place.
In Word for the web, select the text, then choose Review and New Comment (the speech bubble with a plus), type and click Comment or press Ctrl+Enter. Typing @ and a colleague's name mentions them, and Word notifies them. Resolve or delete comments before the document goes to a client.
In a real lesson: Word for the Web: Turn Meeting Notes into a Client Update
In the free Word for the web client update lesson, Dana (made up) finishes a one-page update for Harbor Accounting with a next-steps table. One due date depends on a supplier quote.
She selects Nov 5 in the Due column, chooses Review, New Comment and types "Check the quote's expiry date before this goes out." The comment sits beside the date, with her name and the time. In the practice nobody is @mentioned, so no one is emailed.
Try this lesson free or read the step-by-step guide.
Common confusions
Comments vs track changes
A comment is a note or question. Track changes records edits to the text itself, so they can be accepted or rejected.
Resolve vs delete
Resolving marks a comment as done but keeps it in the thread. Deleting removes it. Clear both kinds before you send a file outside your team.
Tips
- Select the exact words the question is about, not the whole paragraph.
- Check the Comments pane before sharing: comments travel with the file.
- Write the comment as a question with one clear ask, such as "Can you confirm this date with the supplier?", so the reply can be one line.
Related terms
More Business terms
Where you use it: free lessons
- Word for the Web: Turn Meeting Notes into a Client Update (Word, 12 min)
Frequently asked questions
- How do I add a comment in Word for the web?
- Select the text, open the Review tab, click New Comment, type your note and click Comment (or press Ctrl+Enter).
- Does a comment notify anyone?
- Only if you @mention someone: type @ and their name in the comment, and Word sends them a notification.
- Can I reply to a comment instead of adding a new one?
- Yes. Each comment has its own reply box under it, so the question, the answer and who gave it stay together in one thread next to the text.
- Do comments print or show to the client?
- They do not appear in the body text, but they travel with the file. Resolve or delete them before you share the document outside your team.