Problem: Step-by-step editing can help students improve their writing, but editing marks can make a working draft hard to read.

Solution: Use Word's Comments feature to insert unobtrusive, easy-to-see advice.

Classroom Application: Use this feature with any writing assignment requiring editing. Students also can use it for peer editing.

Directions:

• Click the word, phrase, or section in a document you want to comment on.
• Click Insert>Comment to open the Comment window.

  Note: The look of this window will vary, depending on which version of Word you are using. In Word 2004 for Mac, for example, the comment window looks like this:
  
  
  
  But, in Word XP, a red circle will appear in the right margin, and a dotted line will lead from the circle to the place where the comment will be inserted.

• Type your comment -- such as "I don't understand this paragraph" or "Did you use this word correctly?" -- in the Comment window.

  Note: When a comment is inserted in any version of Word, the name of the person inserting the comment appears at the top of the comment field. Sometimes, the name of another user (such as a previous user or a techie!) appears instead. On some versions of Word the name can be deleted directly from the comment field. To permanently change the name to the correct one, however, go to Word>Preferences>User Information (on Mac versions) or Tools>Option, and then click the User tab (on Word XP). Also, if you are one of several editors, the color of the ink in your comment will differ for each user, making it easy to see who added which comment.

• Type your name or initials after the comment.
• Click the Close button or the Reviewing Pane icon.
• Close the comment window.

Note: Different versions of Word also display comments differently. For example, in Word 98, the area in the document that contains the comment appears yellow. Drag the mouse over the yellow text to see the comment. In Word 2004 for Mac, a small red I-bar icon marks the comment location. In Word XP, a red circle with a dotted line indicates a comment.