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How to Compare Word Documents

Take a look at two Word documents side-by-side

By Brenna Miles Brenna Miles Writer The University of Phoenix Brenna Miles is a technology writer with a B.A. in Business Management and HR Management. She's been writing about technology for 6+ years. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on April 21, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email MS Office Word Excel Powerpoint Outlook

What to Know

Open the documents you want to compare and go to Review > Compare > Compare Documents.Choose the Original and the Revised Document. To change how you see comparisons, select the arrow.
To switch the documents around, open the Compare tool and select the double arrows.
This article explains how to compare two documents in Word. The instructions apply to Microsoft Word 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and Word for Microsoft 365.

How to Use the Compare Tool in Microsoft Word

To get started, open the two documents you want to compare. If you haven't done so already, it's best to add an indicator to your documents to indicate the first version and the subsequent version. A simple number will suffice and keep you on track. In one of your documents, locate and select Review in the Word toolbar. Select Compare > Compare Documents to open the Compare Documents window on your screen. Under Original Document on the left side of the Compare Documents window, use the field to locate the original document you want to compare with the revised document. To change how you see comparisons in your documents, select the arrow in the bottom left corner of the window to find various comparison settings and the ability to see changes in different ways. Select the ones you want and deselect the ones you don't. Under Revised Document on the right side of the Compare Documents window, use the field to locate the revised document you want to compare with the original document. When you're happy with your settings, select OK. If you want to compare the documents in the opposite way, open the Compare tool again and select the double arrows to switch the documents around without needing to find them again. This way, you'll compare the revised with the original. You can choose what you want to label the changes as when comparing the two documents. Simply enter your label in the Label changes with field. A new document opens showing the comparisons between the two documents as traditional tracked changes. To see the changes in detail, select the red lines on the left side of the document to reveal details about each change on the right side of the document. If you continue working in the newly created document, remember to select the Save As icon in the top toolbar. Your document won't be saved automatically.

The Microsoft Word Compare Tool' s Many Uses

The Compare tool is extremely useful for comparing two documents of virtually any type, from newsletters to blog posts and beyond. Some of the most common uses of the tool include: Finding document revisions: Authors and bloggers alike use the Compare tool to find revisions made by their editors if change tracking isn't available. Finding discrepancies in source code: Programmers use the Compare tool to find discrepancies in the source code when creating computer programs. Comparing contracts and legal documents: Attorneys use the Compare tool to find changes made to contracts and other legal documents before finalizing. Comparing resumes: Resumes and other living, breathing documents are edited often. The Compare tool helps you compare these documents to find the newest version. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Use Microsoft Word How to Merge Two or More Microsoft Word Documents How to Insert Source Code Into a Word Document How to Use Text Boxes in Microsoft Word How to Insert a Document in Word How to Add Line Numbers to a MS Word Document How to Make a Brochure in Microsoft Word How to Show the Ruler in Word How to Hyperlink in Word Documents How to Turn a PDF into a Word Document How to Insert a PDF Into Word How to Create Mail Merge Letters in Word How to Control F on iPad How to Change a Word Document to Print Different Paper Size How to Add a Degree Symbol in Word Can You Find and Replace Words in Google Docs? Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies