MS Word: Comments Group in the Insert Tab to Insert Comment

If you've ever collaborated on a Word document and thought:

• “How can I leave feedback without editing the text directly?”

• “What’s the best way to add side notes or suggestions in Word?”

• “How do I manage multiple reviewers and their comments?”

Then you’re looking for the Comments feature in Microsoft Word — a collaboration essential found in the Insert Tab → Comments Group.

This guide flips the traditional structure by starting with real-world use cases and common problems, then walks you through exactly how to use comments effectively.

What You Can Do with Comments in MS Word

Action	What It Helps You Achieve
Leave suggestions	Add feedback without changing original text
Collaborate with others	View, respond to, and resolve other users’ comments
Mark issues or tasks	Note areas needing attention or revision
Track decisions	Keep a history of why something was changed or kept
Protect the text	Avoid accidental edits by using comments instead

Common Problems Solved by Comments

“I don’t want to edit the original text, just suggest something.”

Fix: Use the Insert Comment tool to write suggestions in the margin without touching the content.

“There are too many people editing the document. I can’t follow the changes.”

Fix: Ask reviewers to use comments rather than edits. You’ll have a clean main text and centralized feedback.

“I want to keep track of unresolved issues in the text.”

Fix: Use the Resolve feature in the comment thread to mark when an issue has been addressed.

“I’m working in Review mode, but I also want to leave detailed notes.”

Fix: Combine Track Changes with Comments for the most complete collaboration method.

How to Insert a Comment in Word

1. Highlight the text or position your cursor where feedback is needed.

2. Go to Insert Tab → Comments Group → New Comment.

3. A comment bubble will appear in the margin. Type your note.

4. Click outside the comment to save it.

You can also right-click on selected text and choose New Comment.

Where Is the Comments Group in Word?

• Insert Tab → Comments Group → New Comment

Or:

• Review Tab → Comments Section for more review options like reply, delete, next/previous comment.

Managing Comments

Reply to a Comment

Click Reply within an existing comment bubble to start a threaded conversation.

Resolve a Comment

Click Resolve to gray out the comment — it’s not deleted, just marked complete.

Delete a Comment

Right-click on the comment → Delete Comment(Or use Delete → All Comments in Document if needed.)

Navigate Through Comments

Use Previous / Next buttons in the Review Tab to move between comments.

Real-world Use Cases

Scenario	Use of Comments
Peer review of academic papers	Leave analytical notes and questions
Legal contract review	Suggest edits without changing clauses
Group projects or co-authoring	Communicate directly in the document
Teacher feedback on student work	Offer guidance without overwriting text
Translation QA	Mark unclear terms or inconsistencies

Pro Tips

• Use @mention in comments (e.g., @John) to tag collaborators and notify them (works in cloud-based Word).

• Combine comments with Track Changes for full editing transparency.

• You can filter comments by reviewer using the Review Pane or Show Comments panel.

• Keep comments concise and focused—use bullet points for longer feedback.

Accessibility & Collaboration Tips

• Ensure comment text is clear and constructive.

• Avoid relying solely on color (for colorblind users).

• Use comments to communicate intent, not just corrections.

Conclusion

The Comments Group in the Insert Tab of Microsoft Word is your go-to tool for collaborative editing and non-intrusive feedback. Whether you're reviewing, teaching, writing, or co-authoring, this feature helps streamline communication while preserving the original content. With the ability to add, reply, resolve, and navigate comments, you can turn a document into an interactive space for ideas, improvements, and decisions.