How to Prevent Word Comments from Disappearing When Text is Deleted
Question details
The user needs to delete text in a document without losing the comments attached to that text.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Revising a heavily commented document where removing text also removes the associated feedback and review history.
- Observed behavior
- When the text that a comment is anchored to is deleted, the comment automatically disappears, resulting in lost review history.
Save a backup copy of your original document before making extensive edits to ensure no comments or review history are permanently lost.
Enable Track Changes Before Deleting Text
Turning on Track Changes allows you to delete the text as a tracked revision, keeping both the deleted text and its comment visible in the review history.
In Microsoft Word, comments are permanently anchored to specific text. There is no way to attach a comment to the page itself. However, by tracking your revisions, Word treats the deletion as a proposed change rather than a permanent removal, keeping the comment visible until the change is accepted.
Open your document in Microsoft Word and click on the 'Review' tab located in the top ribbon.
Click the 'Track Changes' button to enable it. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + E (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + E (Mac).
Highlight the text you want to remove and press Delete. The text will appear crossed out (depending on your markup view settings), and the associated comment will remain visible.
Maintain an Original Copy or Review Log
For complex reviews involving multiple collaborators, keeping a separate copy of the document is the safest workaround to preserve all feedback.
Manage Comments and Track Changes Easily with WPS Office
WPS Writer offers robust collaboration tools, including comprehensive Track Changes and Commenting features. You can easily preserve your review history while modifying text in a clean, intuitive interface.
- 1. Open your Document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your .docx file containing the comments.
- 2. Enable Track Changes: Navigate to the 'Review' tab on the ribbon and click on 'Track Changes' to start recording your edits.
- 3. Manage Deletions: Select and delete the text safely. The text will be marked as deleted, and the attached comments will remain fully visible in the revision pane.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I anchor a comment to the page instead of text in Word?
No. Microsoft Word requires comments to be anchored to specific text ranges. They cannot be anchored independently to a page or the document as a whole.
How do I recover a comment I accidentally deleted?
If you just deleted the text and the comment disappeared, immediately press Ctrl + Z (Windows) or Cmd + Z (Mac) to undo the action. This will restore both the deleted text and its associated comment.
Will the comment stay if I accept the tracked deletion?
No. Once you choose to accept the deletion of the anchored text in the Track Changes menu, the text is permanently removed, and the associated comment will also be permanently deleted.
