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How to Use the Comment and Markup Tools in Adobe Acrobat

By Erin Wright 2 Comments

This tutorial explains how to edit PDFs with the comment and markup tools in Adobe Acrobat. First, we’ll look at how to access the tools. Then, we’ll look at how to use all thirteen markup tools, including sticky notes, strikethroughs, and text insertions. The bonus tips at the end show how to change the color of markups, add comments to markups, and delete comments and … [Read more...] about How to Use the Comment and Markup Tools in Adobe Acrobat

How to View Specific Reviewers’ Comments and Edits in Microsoft Word

By Erin Wright Leave a Comment

Long documents can have hundreds or even thousands of markups, which can make finding individual feedback quite time-consuming. Today’s tutorial shows how to quickly view specific reviewers’ comments and edits in Microsoft Word. First, we’ll use Track Changes to view comments and edits from specific reviewers. Then, we’ll use the Navigation pane to view comments (but not … [Read more...] about How to View Specific Reviewers’ Comments and Edits in Microsoft Word

How to Restrict Editing in Microsoft Word

By Erin Wright Leave a Comment

Microsoft Word lets us block all comments and Track Changes by saving files as Read Only. However, have you ever wanted to block just some comments or Track Changes instead of all of them? Today’s tutorial explains how to restrict editing in Microsoft Word. Specifically, we will turn on editing restrictions and then (1) limit edits to comments only, (2) prevent users from … [Read more...] about How to Restrict Editing in Microsoft Word

Ten More Handwritten Editing Marks

By Erin Wright Leave a Comment

My previous post “Ten Handwritten Editing Marks” demonstrated the copyediting and proofreading marks for deletions, insertions, transposed letters, paragraphs, periods, commas, apostrophes, quotation marks, capitalization, and lowercasing. Today’s post demonstrates ten more handwritten editing marks: parentheses, spaces, bold font, italic font, remove formatting, en dashes, em … [Read more...] about Ten More Handwritten Editing Marks

How to Use Track Changes in Microsoft Word

By Erin Wright 37 Comments

This tutorial shows how to use Track Changes in Microsoft Word. Track Changes helps us edit documents by tracking insertions, deletions, replacements, and format changes. Word calls these edits markups. The term Track Changes is commonly used for both edits and comments, so this tutorial also includes Word’s comment tool. We will cover eleven topics: How to Turn … [Read more...] about How to Use Track Changes in Microsoft Word

Thirteen Technology Questions to Answer before You Hire an Editor

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13 Technology Quesitons to Answer before You Hire an Editor

There are many questions to answer before you hire an editor. Does the editor have experience in your field or genre? Is the editor’s technique compatible with your writing style? Can the editor meet your scheduling needs? In addition to those important questions (and many more), here are thirteen technology questions to ponder. Of course, some of these questions may not apply … [Read more...] about Thirteen Technology Questions to Answer before You Hire an Editor

How to Change Your Name for Existing Comments and Mark-Ups in Adobe Acrobat DC

By Erin Wright 4 Comments

Adobe Acrobat DC Show Comment App--Step 1 for to how to change your name for existing comments and mark-ups in Adobe Acrobat DC

Have you ever used Adobe Acrobat DC’s comment and mark-up tools to edit an entire document only to realize afterward that you should have used a generic name, such as Editor, rather than your own name? This tutorial demonstrates how to change your name for existing comments and mark-ups in Adobe Acrobat DC---so you no longer have to live with an unwanted moniker (at least not … [Read more...] about How to Change Your Name for Existing Comments and Mark-Ups in Adobe Acrobat DC

How to Change Your Name for New Comments and Mark-Ups in Adobe Acrobat DC

By Erin Wright Leave a Comment

Adobe Acrobat DC Preferences Dialog Box

My last post explained how to change your user name for the track changes tool in Microsoft Word. Today’s post shows how to change your name for new comments and mark-ups in Adobe Acrobat DC. Note that in Acrobat, the name you work under is sometimes referred to as your author name even when you’re not the author. The term author name is similar to the term user name in … [Read more...] about How to Change Your Name for New Comments and Mark-Ups in Adobe Acrobat DC

How to Change Your User Name for Track Changes in Microsoft Word

By Erin Wright 19 Comments

Have you ever wanted (or needed) to be an incognito editor, a covert reviewer, or a clandestine collaborator? If so, this post is for you—or for your secret identity—because it demonstrates how to change your user name for Track Changes in Microsoft Word. This tutorial is also available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real … [Read more...] about How to Change Your User Name for Track Changes in Microsoft Word

How to Reply to Comments and Mark-Ups in Adobe Acrobat DC

By Erin Wright 3 Comments

Adobe Acrobat DC Comment Reply

My last post explained the basics of how to use Adobe Acrobat DC’s comment and mark-up tools. Today’s post explains how to reply to comments and mark-ups in Adobe Acrobat DC through written responses and by changing the status of individual or multiple comments and mark-ups. As mentioned in the previous post, Acrobat’s comment and mark-up tools can't change the document. … [Read more...] about How to Reply to Comments and Mark-Ups in Adobe Acrobat DC

Six Tips for Handling Unwanted Writing Advice

By Erin Wright Leave a Comment

As a business and nonfiction copy editor, I provide unvarnished (but still polite) writing advice for my clients. But another part of my job is less direct: I talk with people about their relationship with writing so that I can customize my approach to their professional or personal needs. Unsurprisingly, many people have negative feelings about writing because they have … [Read more...] about Six Tips for Handling Unwanted Writing Advice

A Brief Overview of Adobe Acrobat’s Spell-Check Tool

By Erin Wright Leave a Comment

Acrobat Comment Examples

Adobe has noticeably improved the editing tools in the most recent versions of Acrobat Pro and Acrobat Standard. The tools feel more fluid and integrated into the user interface than they did in previous versions; and while they aren’t as intuitive as Microsoft Word’s Track Changes, Acrobat’s text comments, highlight comments, and sticky notes (shown below) actually provide … [Read more...] about A Brief Overview of Adobe Acrobat’s Spell-Check Tool

Four Tips for Using the Spelling and Grammar Check in Word

By Erin Wright 2 Comments

When you inherit a Microsoft Word document, the original author's settings can affect the document even when you open it on your own computer. These lingering and potentially unwanted settings may prevent you from receiving a complete spelling and grammar check from Word’s Editor. Here are four quick tips for using the spelling and grammar check in Word effectively—even if your … [Read more...] about Four Tips for Using the Spelling and Grammar Check in Word

Editing Checklist for Long Documents

By Erin Wright Leave a Comment

When we're editing long documents, such as manuals and research reports, we can easily get so focused on the main content that we forget to check ancillary items. Here is a basic list of things to review after you edit the main content: Cover or Title Page—Are the title, subtitle, and author's name spelled correctly? Front Matter—Have the preface, acknowledgment, and … [Read more...] about Editing Checklist for Long Documents

Ten Handwritten Editing Marks

By Erin Wright 5 Comments

Ten Basic Copyediting Marks

Today, Microsoft Word's Track Changes features are the editing tools of choice. But, red pens and hand-marked edits won't journey to the land of dinosaurs and VHS tapes as long as we still use real paper from time to time. Here is a simple graphic demonstrating ten handwritten editing marks: delete, insert, transpose, paragraph, period, comma, apostrophe, quotation marks, … [Read more...] about Ten Handwritten Editing Marks

How to Hire an Editor, Part 3: Tips for Working with Your Editor

By Erin Wright Leave a Comment

Throughout this how-to series, we've explored various editing services and ways to find editors online and through professional organizations. We've also discussed the finer points of interviewing and hiring editors. Let's wrap things up with five tips for working with your editor so that you can make the most of your editing experience: 1. Document Everything As mentioned in … [Read more...] about How to Hire an Editor, Part 3: Tips for Working with Your Editor

How to Hire an Editor, Part 2: Interviews, Payments, and Schedules

By Erin Wright Leave a Comment

Over the past several weeks, we've discussed different types of services provided by freelance editors and how to find editors through Internet searches and professional organizations. Today, we'll cover the final phases of the hiring process: interviewing an editor, discussing payment, and establishing a schedule. Interviewing an Editor Once you've narrowed down your search … [Read more...] about How to Hire an Editor, Part 2: Interviews, Payments, and Schedules

How to Hire an Editor, Part 1: Where to Find an Editor

By Erin Wright Leave a Comment

Last week we talked about the different types of editing services provided by freelance editors: developmental editing, substantive editing, copyediting, and proofreading. Today we'll get down to the nitty-gritty of how to hire an editor or editors for your project. Deciding What You Need Will Help You Figure Out Whom You Need In a perfect world, every writer would hire a … [Read more...] about How to Hire an Editor, Part 1: Where to Find an Editor

Different Types of Editors

By Erin Wright 2 Comments

A reader recently asked me to explain the different types of editors available to help her with her book. Although I have mentioned several types of editing services on my FAQs page, I thought I'd delve into the subject a bit more deeply here—after all, I'm always happy to oblige my readers! The four basic types of editors are developmental, substantive, copy, and … [Read more...] about Different Types of Editors

Six Tips for Editing Other People’s Writing

By Erin Wright 6 Comments

Editing our own writing may not be easy, but it is generally a walk in the park sipping an iced latte compared to the difficulty of editing another person's writing, particularly if that person is a coworker, friend, or relative. Here are six tips to take the sting out of editing other people's writing. 1. Ask the writer what he or she expects from you. Should you offer … [Read more...] about Six Tips for Editing Other People’s Writing

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Technical editor and writer Erin WrightHello! My name is Erin. I am a technical writer and editor who shares step-by-step software tutorials and writing tips for the real world on this blog and YouTube.

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Recent Blog Posts

How to Create a Cover Page in Microsoft Word (Built-In and Custom)

How to Insert and Modify Image Watermarks in Microsoft Word

How to Open Links in Separate Tabs in Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader

How to Create Newspaper-Style Columns in Microsoft Word

How to Insert and Modify Text Watermarks in Microsoft Word

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