Fix Incorrect Document Comparison Results in Word 365
Question details
The user needs to accurately compare two versions of a document without existing tracked changes cluttering the comparison results.
- Product
- Microsoft Word 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Comparing an original document with a revised version to see only the newly made differences between the two files.
- Observed behavior
- Word displays previously tracked changes that were already present in the revised document instead of strictly showing the differences between the original and revised versions.
Before running the comparison tool, check both your original and revised documents for any pending tracked changes by navigating to the Review tab. Resolving these unresolved edits in advance is required for an accurate side-by-side comparison.
Accept All Tracked Changes Before Comparing
Manually accepting all tracked changes on duplicate copies of your documents prevents Word from displaying old edits during the comparison process.
When either document contains unresolved tracked changes, Word attempts to integrate them into the comparison, often resulting in a cluttered document that shows edits already present in the revised file. By creating clean copies where all changes are accepted, you force Word to only look at the structural and textual differences between the two final states.
Open your file explorer and make copies of both the original document and the revised document to protect your original tracked files.
Launch Word 365 and open the newly created copy of your original document.
Navigate to the 'Review' tab on the top ribbon, click the 'Accept' dropdown menu in the Tracking group, and select 'Accept All Changes'. Save and close the document.
Open the copy of your revised document and repeat the previous step (Review > Accept > Accept All Changes), then save and close.
Open a blank Word document, go to the 'Review' tab, click 'Compare', and select the clean copies of your original and revised documents to view accurate differences.
Use WPS Writer for Clear and Accurate Document Comparisons
WPS Office provides a robust and user-friendly document comparison tool that highlights differences clearly and handles tracked changes effortlessly, ensuring you never miss a critical revision.
- 1. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Writer and navigate to the 'Review' tab on the main ribbon.
- 2. Access the Compare tool: Click on the 'Compare' button to open the document comparison dialog box.
- 3. Select your documents: Choose your original document and your revised document from your local files.
- 4. View differences: Adjust your comparison settings if needed and click 'OK'. WPS Writer will generate a new document with all differences clearly marked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word show old edits when I compare documents?
If either the original or revised document contains unresolved tracked changes, Word attempts to process these during the comparison, which merges old edits into the new comparison document. Accepting changes beforehand prevents this behavior.
Can I compare documents without losing the original tracked changes in my files?
Yes. Always make duplicate copies of your original and revised files in your file explorer before accepting any changes. Use these clean copies strictly for the comparison process so your original files remain untouched.
Does the 'Legal blackline' option fix the tracked changes issue automatically?
No. While the legal blackline setting is designed to show differences clearly by default, it may still prompt you to accept or reject existing tracked changes, or result in cluttered output if unresolved changes exist in the source files.
