Formatting Issues

Fix Word 365 Comments Incorrect Spacing in Contextual View

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing a formatting issue where text spacing within comments looks incorrect when viewed in the Contextual view, while displaying normally elsewhere.

Product: Word 365
Device & OS: Windows 11
Scenario: Reviewing documents and reading comments in Word's Contextual view.
Observed behavior: Comments show abnormal or incorrect text spacing in Contextual view, despite appearing normally in List view, Notepad, or when Word is launched in Safe Mode.

Before you start

Since resolving this issue requires modifying the Windows Registry, it is highly recommended to create a backup of your registry or a system restore point before proceeding.

Solution 1Recommended

Delete the Word Data Registry Subkey

Resetting the Word Data registry subkey often resolves contextual view formatting glitches that persist outside of Safe Mode.

The Word Data registry key stores frequently used settings and UI configurations. When corrupted, it can cause display issues like incorrect spacing in the comment contextual view.

Close Word

Ensure Microsoft Word and all other Office applications are completely closed.

Open Registry Editor

Press the Windows key + R, type 'regedit' in the Run dialog box, and press Enter.

Navigate to the Data Key

Navigate to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Word\Data (adjust the '16.0' version number if using a different version of Office).

Delete the Subkey

Right-click the 'Data' folder in the left pane, select 'Delete', and confirm the action. Restart Word to check if the comments display correctly.

Solution 2

Disable Word Startup Add-ins

If the issue does not occur in Word Safe Mode, a third-party add-in might be interfering with how comments are rendered.

Solution 3

Rename the Normal.dotm Template

A corrupted global template can cause unexpected formatting behavior in Word's user interface.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Bug-Free Document Reviewing

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1. Download WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for free from the official website.
2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your .docx file directly.
3. Review Comments: Navigate to the Review tab to view and manage all your comments perfectly formatted without display glitches.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Word comments look fine in List view but not in Contextual view?

Contextual view relies on specific UI rendering settings stored in the Word Data registry key. If this key becomes corrupted, the layout in Contextual view can break, while the simpler List view remains unaffected.

Does reinstalling Microsoft Office fix the comment spacing issue?

Not always. Reinstalling Office often preserves user registry settings and the Normal.dotm template. Deleting the specific Word Data registry key is usually a more effective solution.

What does starting Word in Safe Mode actually do?

Word Safe Mode starts the application without loading startup add-ins, customizations, or the Normal.dotm template. If the comment spacing issue disappears in Safe Mode, it indicates that one of these elements is causing the problem.

Will deleting the Word Data registry key delete my documents?

No. The Word Data registry key only stores application preferences and recent UI configurations. Deleting it simply resets these settings to their default values without affecting your saved files.

Document & File Issues