'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Remove a Large Blank Margin in Microsoft Word
Question details
The user needs to eliminate a large, unwanted blank margin that appears on the right side of their document.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Viewing, printing, or exporting a document to PDF.
- Observed behavior
- A large blank area is displayed on the right side of the document page, which is typically the markup area reserved for comments and tracked changes.
Before permanently removing comments and tracked changes, review them to ensure you are not deleting important feedback or unapproved document revisions.
Permanently Remove Comments and Tracked Changes
Use this method to permanently clean up the document and completely remove the markup margin for anyone who opens or prints the file.
The blank space on the right side of your document is the designated markup area. By accepting or rejecting all tracked changes and deleting all comments, Microsoft Word will automatically remove this margin and restore the normal page layout.
Open your document in Microsoft Word and navigate to the 'Review' tab located on the top ribbon.
In the Tracking group, click the lower half of the 'Accept' button and choose 'Accept All Changes'. Alternatively, choose 'Reject All Changes' if you do not want to keep the edits.
In the Comments group, click the lower half of the 'Delete' button and select 'Delete All Comments in Document'. The large blank margin will immediately disappear.
Hide Markup for On-Screen Viewing
Use this method if you want to temporarily hide the margin while you read, without deleting the actual comments or revisions.
Disable Print Markup for Printing and PDF Export
Use this solution if you need to keep the comments in the document but want to print or save it as a PDF without the wide margin showing up.
Easily Manage Margins and Revisions with WPS Office
WPS Writer offers an intuitive and highly compatible platform for editing Word documents. You can easily accept changes, delete comments, and fix formatting issues like unwanted margins in just a few clicks.
- 1. Open your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing the unwanted blank margin.
- 2. Access the Review Tools: Click on the 'Review' tab in the top navigation ribbon.
- 3. Clear the Markup: Click the 'Accept' drop-down to accept all changes, and click the 'Delete' drop-down to remove all comments. The margin will be removed instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Word document suddenly have a large grey area on the right?
This area is known as the markup area. Microsoft Word automatically creates this wide margin on the right side of the page to display tracked changes, formatting bubbles, and reviewer comments.
Can I remove the blank margin without deleting my comments?
Yes, for viewing purposes, you can go to the Review tab and change the Display for Review setting to 'No Markup'. If you are printing, you can simply uncheck 'Print Markup' in the Print settings.
Why does the margin still appear when I save the document as a PDF?
When exporting or saving as a PDF, Word may include the markup area by default. To prevent this, go to File > Print, uncheck 'Print Markup' in the settings drop-down, and then use a PDF printer, or ensure 'Document showing markup' is not selected in the PDF publish options.
