How to Add Annotations in Word

Add a note to any Word doc with these easy steps

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Last Updated: July 23, 2025 Tested

An annotation is a note made on a document concerning a specific word, passage or paragraph. It may signify the need for an error correction or perhaps an editor's suggestion to recast the text. Annotations can also be used by teachers and professors when grading and reviewing a student's work. Whatever the situation may be, annotations can be easily added in a Word document.

Adding Notes in Word

Open your document in Microsoft Word.
Save the document as a new file under a new name.
Click the Review tab on the menu.
Select Comments under the Show Markup drop-down.
Highlight the text you want to annotate.
Click New Comment or Insert → Comment.
Type out your note and press ESC to finish.

Steps

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3
Save the document as a new file with a different file name before you add annotations.
- This is to preserve the original file.
4
Enable the Markup feature to annotate in Word.
- In Word 2003, you will find this under the "View" menu.
- In Word 2007 or 2010, click on the Review tab on the menu or ribbon and select "Comments" under the "Show Markup" drop-down box.
6
Insert a comment.
- In Word 2003, click the Insert menu and choose "Comment."
- In Word 2007 or 2010, click "New Comment" in the Comments section of the Review tab.
- Type out your comment and press the ESC key to close it.
- Edit or delete comments by right-clicking on them and either choosing "Delete" or altering the text.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I print a Word document with the annotations?

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Community Answer

Go to the "Review" tab and hit "Show Comments" under the "Comments" section. Then when you print, the annotations should show up.

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Question

How do I draw things on an image in Microsoft Word?

Community Answer

If you want to add arrows or other shapes to the image, then select the image and go to the Format - Drawing Tools tab. On the left side of the ribbon, you can select and add shapes to your image in the Insert Shapes section. If you want to draw something other than a shape, I would recommend doing it in another program, saving the edited image, and then inserting that into Word.

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Tips

Advise any future recipients of the document to turn on the "Markup" feature in order to see your comments and track changes.

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The "Track Changes" feature in Word will allow you to edit a document while noting your changes and the original text. Changes can then be accepted or rejected by either yourself or another user.

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Word also allows you to insert footnotes and endnotes in your text by using the Cross-reference or Reference tool located on the Insert tab and menu.

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Warnings

Keep your comments as professional as you would any other form of communication that could be viewed by students, peers, coworkers or supervisors. You never know who will have access to track changes in the document and your attached comments.

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