Word Automatically Adds Suggestions to Track Changes Document

How to Prevent Microsoft Word from Auto-Adding Suggestions in Track Changes

If you’ve ever opened a Microsoft Word document and noticed unexpected annotations or suggestions appearing within your tracked changes, you’re not alone. Many users have encountered instances where Word automatically inserts suggestions or edits, sometimes cluttering their carefully curated manuscript or document. This can be particularly frustrating when working on important documents that require precise control over revisions.

Understanding the Issue

In some cases, upon opening a Word document, users observe automatic alterations such as red text highlighting their modifications, along with green text attributed to an entity labeled as “Microsoft Word.” These automatic suggestions may stem from the program’s built-in feature set designed to assist with editing but can sometimes behave unexpectedly, especially if certain settings are enabled by default or if collaborative editing features are activated.

Common Causes

  1. Auto-Repair or Auto-Insert Features: Word’s automatic correction and suggestion features can sometimes add text or formatting changes without explicit user input, especially if enabled under proofing or editing options.

  2. Real-Time Collaboration: When working with cloud-based versions (such as Word Online or documents stored on OneDrive or SharePoint), automatic suggestions may be generated based on collaborative input.

  3. Add-ins or External Tools: Some third-party or Microsoft Office add-ins can also introduce automatic suggestions or comments, potentially overlapping with native Word features.

How to Disable Unwanted Suggestions and Auto-Add Features

While Microsoft Word offers extensive customization for tracked changes and suggestions, disabling automatic additions requires adjustments in several areas:

1. Turn Off ‘Track Changes’ Automatically Accept/Reject Suggestions

  • Navigate to the Review tab.
  • In the Tracking group, click Track Changes Settings or the downward arrow next to Track Changes.
  • Review options such as Highlight Changes On Screen and Use Balloons, and modify or disable them to prevent automatic suggestions from appearing as suggestions.

2. Adjust Proofing and Auto-Correct Options

  • Go to File > Options > Proofing.
  • Click on AutoCorrect Options.
  • Review settings like Automatically Correct Mistakes and Automatically Insert Suggestions. Uncheck any options that may lead to automatic insertions.

3. Review Collaboration and Sharing Settings

– If you’re working on a document shared via OneDrive or SharePoint, consider the sharing permissions and whether real-time co-authoring is enabled, as this can sometimes generate suggestions.

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