When you share a Word document with colleagues for review, comments are often added to suggest changes or ask questions. By default, printing a document hides these comments or prints them on a separate page, not in the margin where they were placed. This can make it hard to see feedback alongside the original text. This article explains how to print comments directly in the right margin using the Print dialog, and how to adjust the layout for the best results.
Key Takeaways: Printing Comments in the Margin
- File > Print > Settings > Print All Pages > Print Markup: Enables comments to appear in the margin when printed.
- Review > Show Comments > Show Comments and Track Changes: Controls which comment types are visible on screen and in print.
- File > Print > Settings > Pages per Sheet > Narrow Margins: Prevents comment text from being cut off at the paper edge.
How Word Handles Comments During Printing
Word stores comments in a separate layer attached to specific text or positions in the document. When you print, Word decides whether to include these comments based on the Print Markup setting. If Print Markup is off, comments are omitted entirely. If Print Markup is on, Word places comments in the right margin of each page, using a narrow column that reflows the main text to make room. This layout is called the Markup view and is the only way to print comments inline with the text.
The Print Markup feature works with both comments and tracked changes. When enabled, tracked changes such as insertions, deletions, and formatting changes also appear in the margin or inline. You can fine-tune which types of markup appear by using the Review tab settings before printing.
Steps to Print Comments in the Margin
Follow these steps to print your document with comments displayed in the right margin.
- Open the document in Word
Make sure all comments you want to print are visible. Go to the Review tab and verify that Show Comments is checked under the Tracking group. If you have multiple reviewers, ensure the comment list is not filtered. - Open the Print dialog
Press Ctrl+P or go to File > Print. The Print pane displays a preview of your document on the right side. - Enable Print Markup
Under Settings, click the first drop-down box that currently says Print All Pages. In the menu that appears, check the box labeled Print Markup. The preview updates immediately to show comments in the right margin. - Adjust the paper orientation if needed
If comments are long, switch to Landscape orientation by clicking the orientation drop-down in the Print settings. This gives more horizontal space for comments without compressing the main text. - Set margins for readability
Click Margins in the Print settings and select Narrow or Custom Margins. A wider right margin (at least 2 inches) prevents comment text from wrapping awkwardly or being cut off. - Print the document
Click the Print button. Each page now shows the original text on the left and comments aligned to the right margin.
If Comments Are Still Missing From the Printout
“I enabled Print Markup but comments do not appear”
This usually happens when comments are hidden in the Review tab. Go to Review > Show Comments and confirm it is toggled on. Also check that Review > Show Markup has Comments checked. If you are using a shared document with locked comments, ask the document owner to unlock the comments via Review > Restrict Editing.
“Comments print on a separate page instead of the margin”
This occurs when Print Markup is turned off. In the Print dialog, under Settings, click Print All Pages and verify that Print Markup is checked. If the box is grayed out, the document may be in a compatibility mode created by an older version of Word. Save the document in the current .docx format by going to File > Save As and choosing Word Document (.docx).
“Printed comments are cut off or overlapping text”
Long comments may exceed the available margin space. Reduce the font size of comments by adjusting the Comment style in the Styles pane, or shorten the comment text before printing. Alternatively, switch to landscape orientation and set custom margins to 2.5 inches on the right side.
Printing Comments Only Without the Main Text
If you need a list of all comments without the document body, use the List of Markup option. Go to File > Print, click Print All Pages, and select List of Markup. This prints every comment in sequence with the page number and reviewer name. This option does not place comments in the margin; it creates a separate reference sheet.
Word Desktop vs Word for the Web: Comment Printing Differences
| Item | Word Desktop | Word for the Web |
|---|---|---|
| Print comments in margin | Yes, via Print Markup setting | No, comments are always omitted |
| Print list of comments only | Yes, via List of Markup option | No, not available |
| Adjust comment font size for print | Yes, via style modification | No |
Word for the Web does not support printing comments at all. To print comments in the margin, you must open the document in Word desktop or use the Word desktop app installed on Windows. If you are using Word for the Web, download the document by clicking File > Save As > Download a Copy and then open it in the desktop version to print.
Now you can print any reviewed document with comments visible in the margin. Start by enabling Print Markup in the Print dialog. For long documents with many comments, test a single page first to check the layout. As an advanced tip, create a custom print preset by saving your preferred margin and orientation settings as a template to reuse for future review printouts.