Share & coauthor

Using Modern Comments

The modern comments experience in Word sets the stage for richer collaboration by your team and aligns the commenting experience across the Office suite. With modern comments, you can leave thoughts or questions in the document for others, review and edit your comments before committing them, and @mention someone to invite them into the conversation.

Add a comment

To add a new comment, follow these steps:

  1. Select the text, image, table, etc. you want to comment on, and then do one of the following:

    • On the Review tab, select New Comment.The New Comment button on the Review ribbon.

    • Right-click (or long-press) and select New Comment.The New Comment context menu.

    • Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + M.

  2. Select the Post comment button or Ctrl + Enter.example comment being posted with the post button (ctrl + enter)

React to a comment

  1. Select an existing comment or create a new comment and post it.

  2. To react to a comment, select the Like button in the top right corner of the comment box.

  3. To remove your reaction, simply select the Like button again.

  4. To see who has reacted to a comment, hover over the Like button.Liking a comment.

Reply to, edit, or resolve a comment

  1. Select an existing comment.

  2. Select the reply box.

  3. Type your reply.

  4. Select the Post comment button or Ctrl + Enter to commit the comment.Replying to a comment.

  1. Select an existing comment.

  2. Select the Edit comment button.

  3. Make your changes.

  4. Select the Post comment button or Ctrl + Enter to commit the edit.Edit an existing comment with the Edit pencil icon button

  1. Select an existing comment.

  2. In the comment, select the ellipsis ( ).

  3. Do one of the following:

  • Select the Delete thread button to delete the comment or comment thread.

  • Select Resolve thread to mark comment threads that have been addressed.Resolve a comment with the "..." ellipsis button on the comment card

Note: Resolved comments will not appear in the Contextual view. You can view resolved comments in List view.What a resolved comment looks like.

  1. Open a document that contains comments.

  2. Select the Review tab in the ribbon menu.

  3. Under Delete , select Delete All Comments in Document.Where to delete all comments in a document on the Review ribbon.

Link to a comment

  1. Select an existing comment.

  2. In the comment, select the ellipsis ( ).

  3. Select Link to comment.

  4. Select Copy. Your link is now available to share.Use the link to comment button in the ellipsis menu

Use @mentions to tag someone or to assign a task

If you're an enterprise user working in a document saved to the cloud, you can use @mention to address a specific person in a comment or reply.

  1. Type @ and the first few letters of the person's first or last name, and then pick the name you want.

  2. Select the Post comment button. The person mentioned in the comment or reply will receive an email notification.Mention or tag someone in a comment with the @ symbol

For more information about using @mentions, see the article Use @mention in comments to tag someone for feedback .

You can also use comments and @mention to assign a task.

  1. Type @ and the first few letters of the person's first or last name, and then pick the name you want.

  2. Select the Assign to checkbox to assign the comment as a task.

  3. Select the Post comment button.Assign a task using the checkbox in comments

Two ways to view comments

Comments are shown in the Contextual View by default. When you add a comment in Word, you'll see it appear in the right margin as close to the insertion point in the text as possible. In this view, all active comments are visible in context on each page. This allows you to easily see comments alongside the associated content. When you select a comment, a border appears around it and its position is closer to the page.

The Contextual View hides all resolved comments so you can focus on active comments.

Switch to contextual view with the Show Comments button in the review tab

To view all comments, including all resolved comments, you can open the Comments pane to see the List View. Open the pane by selecting Comments in the right corner of the ribbon. This will switch from Contextual View to List View.

The Comments button on the ribbon.

The Comments pane in List View.

You can interact with comments in the List View the same as you would in the Contextual View. If you reopen a resolved comment, it will be visible again in Contextual View. The pane is useful for reviewing all comments at once without having to scroll through all the document’s pages.

You can switch between the different views anytime by selecting Comments in the right corner of the ribbon, or in the Review tab using the drop-down menu in the Show Comments button.

Add a comment

To add a new comment, follow these steps:

  1. Select the text, image, table, etc. you want to comment on, and then do one of the following:

    • Select the New Comment icon in the margin.new comment icon in margin

    • Right-click (or long-press) the selection and select New Comment.The New Comment context menu.

    • Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + M.

  2. Select the Post comment button or Ctrl + Enter.post button on comment card

React to a comment

  1. Select an existing comment or create a new comment and post it.

  2. To react to a comment, select the Like button in the top right corner of the comment box.

  3. To remove your reaction, simply select the Like button again.

  4. To see who has reacted to a comment, hover over the Like button.Liking a comment.

Reply to, edit, or resolve a comment

  1. Select an existing comment.

  2. Select the reply box.

  3. Type your reply.

  4. Select the Post comment button or Ctrl + Enter to commit the comment.Replying to a comment.

  1. Select an existing comment.

  2. Select the ellipsis ( ... ).

  3. Select Edit comment.

  4. Make your changes.

  5. Select the Post comment button or Ctrl + Enter to commit the comment.Edit comment button

  1. Select an existing comment.

  2. In the comment, select the ellipsis ( )

  3. Do one of the following:

  • Select the Delete thread button to delete the comment or comment thread.

  • Select Resolve thread to mark comment threads that have been addressed.resolve comment button

    Note: Resolved comments will not appear in the contextual view. You can view resolved comments in List view.What a resolved comment looks like.

  1. Open a document that contains comments.

  2. Select the Review tab in the ribbon.

  3. Under Delete, select Delete all comments in Document.Where to delete all comments in a document on the Review ribbon.

Link to a comment

  1. Select an existing comment.

  2. In the comment, select the ellipsis ( ).

  3. Select Link to comment.

  4. Select Copy. Your link is now available to share.link to comment button

Use @mentions to tag someone or to assign a task

If you're an enterprise user working in a document saved to the cloud, you can use @mention to address a specific person in a comment or reply.

  1. Type @ and the first few letters of the person's first or last name, and then pick the name you want.

  2. Select the Post comment button. The person mentioned in the comment or reply will receive an email notification.mention someone with @ in a comment

For more information about using @mentions, see the article Use @mention in comments to tag someone for feedback.

You can also use comments and @mention to assign a task.

  1. Type @ and the first few letters of the person's first or last name, and then pick the name you want.

  2. Select the Assign to checkbox to assign the comment as a task.

  3. Select the Post comment button.assign a task in a comment

Two ways to view comments

Comments are shown in the Contextual View by default. When you add a comment in Word, you'll see it appear in the right margin as close to the insertion point in the text as possible. In this view, all active comments are visible in context on each page. This allows you to easily see comments alongside the associated content. When you select a comment, a border appears around it and its position is closer to the page.

The Contextual View hides all resolved comments so you can focus on active comments.

To view all comments, including all resolved comments, you can open the Comments pane to see the List View. Open the pane by selecting Comments in the right corner of the ribbon. This will switch from Contextual View to List View.

The Comments button on the ribbon.

The Comments pane in List View.

You can interact with comments in the List View the same as you would in the Contextual View. If you reopen a resolved comment, it will be visible again in Contextual View. The pane is useful for reviewing all comments at once without having to scroll through all the document’s pages.

You can switch between the different views anytime by selecting Comments in the right corner of the ribbon, or in the Review tab using the Show Comments button.

Add a comment

To add a new comment, follow these steps:

  1. Select the text, image, table, etc. you want to comment on, and then do one of the following:

  • On the Review tab, select New Comment. New comment button in ribbon

  • Right-click (or long-press) and select New Comment.Options available in the right-click context menu where the "New Comment" option is selected.

  • Use the keyboard shortcut Cmd + Alt + M.  

2.  Select the Post comment button or Cmd + Enter.post comment button

React to a comment

  1. Select an existing comment or create a new comment and post it.

  2. To react to a comment, select the Like button in the top right corner of the comment box.

  3. To remove your reaction, simply select the Like button again.

  4. To see who has reacted to a comment, hover over the Like button."Thumbs up" reaction on a comment in Word on Mac.

Reply to, edit, or resolve a comment

  1. Select an existing comment.

  2. Select the reply box.

  3. Type your reply.

  4. Select the Post comment button or Cmd + Enter to commit the comment.Reply to comment on Mac

  1. Select an existing comment.

  2. Select the Edit comment button.

  3. Make your changes.

  4. Select the Post comment button or Cmd + Enter to commit the edit.Comment in Word on Mac, where the more options menu has the "Edit comment" option selected.

  1. Select an existing comment.

  2. In the comment, select the ellipsis ( ).

  3. Do one of the following:

  • Select the Delete thread button to delete the comment or comment thread.

  • Select Resolve thread to mark comment threads that have been addressed.Comment more options menu open with the "Resolve thread" option selected.

Note: Resolved comments will not appear in the Contextual view. You can view resolved comments in List view.Mac resolved comments

  1. Open a document that contains comments.

  2. Select the Review tab in the ribbon.

  3. Under Delete , select Delete all comments in Document .Comment menu for the "Delete" button is expanded and the "Delete All Comments in Document" option is selected.

Link to a comment

  1. Select an existing comment.

  2. In the comment, select the ellipsis ( ).

  3. Select Link to comment.

  4. Select Copy. Your link is now available to share.Comment more options menu with the "Link to comment" option selected.

Use @mentions to tag someone or to assign a task

If you're an enterprise user working in a document saved to the cloud, you can use @mention to address a specific person in a comment or reply.

  1. Type @ and the first few letters of the person's first or last name, and then pick the name you want.

  2. Select the Post comment button. The person mentioned in the comment or reply will receive an email notification.Mention on mac

For more information about using @mentions, see the article Use @mention in comments to tag someone for feedback .

You can also use comments and @mention to assign a task.

  1. Type @ and the first few letters of the person's first or last name, and then pick the name you want.

  2. Select the Assign to checkbox to assign the comment as a task.

  3. Select the Post comment button.Assign task on Mac

Two ways to view comments

Comments are shown in the Contextual View by default. When you add a comment in Word, you'll see it appear in the right margin as close to the insertion point in the text as possible. In this view, all active comments are visible in context on each page. This allows you to easily see comments alongside the associated content. When you select a comment, a border appears around it and its position is closer to the page.

The Contextual View hides all resolved comments so you can focus on active comments.

"Show Comments" menu expanded in Word on Mac with the "Contextual" option is selected.

To view all comments, including all resolved comments, you can open the Comments pane to see the List View. Open the pane by selecting Comments in the right corner of the ribbon. This will switch from Contextual View to List View.

Comments button in Word on Mac

The side Comments pane, with a list of comments made inside of the document in Word on Mac

You can interact with comments in the List View the same as you would in the Contextual View. If you reopen a resolved comment, it will be visible again in Contextual View. The pane is useful for reviewing all comments at once without having to scroll through all the document’s pages.

You can switch between the different views anytime by selecting Comments in the right corner of the ribbon, or in the Review tab using the drop-down menu in the Show Comments button.

Need more help?

Want more options?

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.