How to Compare Two Versions of a Document in Microsoft Word [Tutorial]

You can easily compare documents in Word to note changes between them. One of the most commonly performed tasks in the legal profession is creating a legal blackline document. The terms “redlining” or “comparing documents” are two other ways to refer to this. When you compare documents in Word, you can show only the changed content between the two copies in a third, separate document.

Many legal professionals use this feature when reviewing contracts to note the revisions between two copies of a contract. This lets you create and compare multiple copies of a legal document, noting changes between the original, the first draft, the second draft, and so on. This helps you keep all copies of the drafts for historical purposes. It also shows the changes made and who requested the changes. This lesson shows how to compare documents in Word to create a legal blackline document.

Issues addressed in this tutorial:
compare two versions of word document
two versions of word on same computer
combine two versions of word documents
word for different version
word for different versions of something

Word compares the two documents. The changes are displayed in a quadruple-split window, as shown here. This presentation is actually a third document titled Compare Result.

This tutorial will apply for Microsoft Word 2021, 2019, 2013, and 2010 for both Windows (such as Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Toshiba, Acer, Asus) and macOS (MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, MacBook Mini) devices.