Version History Issues

How to Fix Word Compare Showing Revisions Backward

Partner Editor Oct 12, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user needs to correct the document comparison feature because additions are incorrectly showing as deletions and vice versa.

How to Fix Word Compare Showing Revisions Backward

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Using the document comparison tool to track changes and revisions between an older and newer version of a file.
Observed behavior: Revisions appear backward, with newly added text shown as deleted and removed text shown as added, due to an incorrect document selection order.

Before you start

Ensure you know exactly which file is the older version and which is the newer version, and have both saved in an easily accessible folder before running the comparison.

Solution 1Recommended

Correct the Original and Revised Document Order

Swap the selected documents in the Compare tool so Word correctly processes the chronological order of your changes.

When Word compares two documents, it treats the 'Original document' as the baseline. If you accidentally set your newest file as the original, Word assumes all the new text existed first and was subsequently removed in the 'Revised document'. Swapping these files corrects the tracked changes display.

Open the Compare Tool

Launch Microsoft Word, navigate to the Review tab on the top ribbon, click 'Compare', and select 'Compare...' from the drop-down menu.

Set the Original Document

In the Compare Documents dialog box, click the folder icon under 'Original document' and select the earlier (older) version of your file.

Set the Revised Document

Under 'Revised document', click the folder icon and select the latest (newer) version of your file.

Adjust Settings and Run

Click 'More' to verify your comparison settings (such as showing changes at the word level). Finally, click 'OK' to generate the corrected comparison.

Correct the Original and Revised Document Order

Display Preferences: Under the 'Show Changes In' setting, it is highly recommended to select 'New document'. This ensures neither of your existing files is accidentally altered during the comparison.

Efficient Document Comparison

Easily Compare Document Versions with WPS Writer

WPS Office provides an intuitive and highly accurate document comparison tool that highlights insertions and deletions clearly. It allows you to manage document versions efficiently without the confusion of reversed edits.

1. Go to the Review Tab: Open WPS Writer and navigate to the Review tab located on the main ribbon.
2. Launch the Compare Tool: Click the Compare button to open the comparison settings window.
3. Select Your Versions: Choose your older file as the Original Document and your newer file as the Revised Document.
4. View the Comparison: Click OK to instantly generate a new document showing all tracked changes accurately.

Intuitive interface that clearly distinguishes between original and revised document states.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) formats.Free, lightweight, and requires no steep learning curve.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reverse the comparison directly from the results window?

No, Word does not have a one-click button to swap the document order directly from the active comparison window. You must start a new comparison via Review > Compare and swap the selected files.

Why does my document show red strikethroughs on text I just added?

This happens when the newer document is mistakenly set as the 'Original document'. Word assumes the newly added text was part of the original file and was removed in the older file. Swapping the Original and Revised files will fix this.

Will comparing documents overwrite my original files?

By default, Word usually opens the comparison in a new document. However, to be safe, always check the 'Show Changes In' setting in the Compare dialog box and ensure 'New document' is selected.

Document & File Issues