How to Add Comments in Microsoft Word: A Complete Guide

Comments in Microsoft Word are one of those features that look simple on the surface but have more depth than most users realize. Whether you're reviewing a colleague's report, editing a student's essay, or leaving notes for yourself during a draft, understanding how comments work — and how to use them effectively — makes a real difference in your workflow.

What Are Comments in Word?

A comment in Word is an annotation attached to a specific piece of text, image, or other content in a document. Unlike tracked changes, which modify the document itself, comments sit alongside the text in a markup panel or bubble — visible but separate. They're non-destructive: adding or deleting a comment never changes the underlying document content.

Comments also support threaded replies, meaning multiple reviewers can respond to the same comment, creating a mini conversation directly inside the document. This makes them especially useful in collaborative environments.

How to Add a Comment in Word 🖊️

The core method works across most modern versions of Word:

1. Select the text you want to comment on — highlight a word, sentence, or paragraph.
2. Go to the Review tab in the ribbon.
3. Click New Comment.
4. Type your note in the comment bubble that appears on the right side of the document.

Keyboard shortcut: On Windows, Ctrl + Alt + M inserts a comment instantly. On Mac, Cmd + Option + A does the same.

If you don't select any text first, Word will anchor the comment to your cursor's current position, which can result in a less precise annotation.

Adding Comments on Word for the Web

Word's browser-based version (part of Microsoft 365) follows the same basic flow — Insert > Comment from the menu, or the Review tab if visible. The interface is slightly simplified compared to the desktop app, but threaded replies and basic comment management are all present.

Adding Comments on Mobile (iOS and Android)

On smartphones and tablets, the process shifts slightly:

• Select text by tapping and holding, then dragging the handles.
• Tap the three-dot menu or look for the Review option depending on your app version.
• Choose New Comment and type your note.

Mobile comment support has improved significantly in recent versions of the Word app, though formatting and management options remain more limited than on desktop.

Comment Features Worth Knowing

Threaded Replies

Clicking Reply on any existing comment lets another reviewer respond directly to that thread. This keeps feedback organized by topic rather than scattered across a long sidebar. In team editing scenarios, this is far more readable than a pile of separate comments.

@Mentions

In Microsoft 365 versions of Word, you can @mention a specific person inside a comment by typing @ followed by their name. Word will notify that person and, in some configurations, automatically share the document with them. This is a collaboration shortcut that many users don't discover until they've been using Word for years.

Resolving vs. Deleting Comments

There's an important distinction here:

Resolved comments can be toggled visible again via Review > Show Markup > Comments. This matters if you need an audit trail of what feedback was given and addressed.

Printing and Hiding Comments

By default, Word may print comments alongside the document. To suppress this, go to File > Print > Settings, then change Print All Pages to Print Markup off, or select Document (without markup) from the print options. Worth checking before sending a document to a printer or exporting to PDF.

Variables That Affect How Comments Behave

Not every user experiences comments identically — several factors shape what you'll see and how the feature works:

• Microsoft 365 subscription vs. standalone license: Threaded replies and @mentions are primarily Microsoft 365 features. Older standalone versions (Word 2016, 2019) have comments but may lack newer collaboration tools.
• Document sharing mode: Comments behave differently in documents shared via OneDrive or SharePoint (real-time collaboration) versus emailed .docx files (static, no live sync).
• Compatibility mode: If you're working in a document saved in an older format (.doc instead of .docx), some comment features are restricted.
• User permissions: In shared documents, the document owner may restrict who can edit, comment, or resolve threads.
• Version of Word installed: The desktop app, the web app, and the mobile app each present comment tools differently, with the desktop version being the most feature-complete.

The Spectrum of Comment Use Cases 💬

A solo writer leaving notes for themselves during a draft needs almost nothing beyond basic comment insertion and deletion. A legal team reviewing a contract across multiple stakeholders depends on threaded replies, @mentions, resolution tracking, and precise version control. A teacher annotating student work may need to print comments cleanly alongside the document.

Each of these users is working with the same feature, but the relevant settings, tools, and behaviors differ based on how the document is shared, what version of Word they're running, and what outcome they're managing.

Understanding those layers — basic insertion, collaboration tools, version differences, and sharing context — is what separates someone who uses comments from someone who uses them well. Where your own workflow fits within that range depends entirely on your setup and what you're trying to accomplish.