Key points at a glance
- “No Markup” hides suggestions without resolving them.
- Accept or reject substantive changes deliberately.
- Recheck both the final Word file and exported PDF.
Why review marks matter
After feedback rounds, a Word file may contain suggested edits and comments. These can reveal unresolved questions, deleted wording or collaborators’ names. Before submission, decide which text is final and which internal notes should be absent from the copy you share.
Microsoft explains that previously recorded revisions may remain even after Track Changes is switched off. A view without visible markup does not remove them either. Inspect the document state rather than only its current appearance.
Make text decisions consciously
Save a working copy first. Review the changes and decide which to accept or reject. Individual assessment matters especially for scientific claims, numbers and citations. “Accept all” is appropriate only after you can take responsibility for every suggested change.
Original example: Feedback proposes changing “causes” to “is associated with”. This is more than style; it alters the strength of a causal claim. Check your design before accepting it, and inspect similar claims in the abstract and conclusion.
Inspect comments and additional information
Resolve open comments during drafting and remove completed discussions from the submission copy when they do not belong there. Deleting comments is separate from accepting or rejecting text changes. Check both areas.
For a file you intend to share, Word’s document inspection features can find additional hidden information such as properties or revision data. Microsoft documents these tools. Work on a copy because some removals may be difficult to reverse.
Inspect the actual submission version
Close and reopen the cleaned file. Check the review pane for remaining revisions or comments. Inspect chapters that underwent substantial editing: are sentences, citations, tables and numbering still correct?
Export a new PDF from this precise version. Open it and look for comment text, unexpected highlighting, gaps or changed pagination. An older PDF does not automatically represent the Word file you just cleaned.
Final submission context
Formal details can feel like a separate writing task, but they matter just as much for a printed submission. Anything missing, misplaced or inconsistently formatted in the document will also appear in the bound copy.
Use this guide together with your cover page, table of contents, page numbers, source notes and appendices. Prepare the final PDF for printing and binding only after the complete file has been checked.
Practical check before PDF export
- Do headings, chapter structure and page numbers match?
- Are sources, figures and tables included completely?
- Are required elements such as declarations, appendices or the cover page included where required?
- Did you open and check the final PDF after exporting it?
Checklist
- Preserve a working copy.
- Resolve suggested edits consciously.
- Inspect comments separately.
- Check hidden information where relevant.
- Export the PDF from the reviewed final file.
Common mistakes
- Treating “No Markup” as deletion of revisions.
- Accepting all substantive suggestions without reading them.
- Submitting an old PDF after changing the Word document.
Print and bind your finished thesis
Once you have checked the content and final PDF, configure the printed copies to match your submission requirements.
Configure printing and bindingRelated content
Explore related guidance on thesis structure, sources, formatting and final submission.
Frequently asked questions
Is switching off Track Changes enough?
No. It stops recording new changes. Existing suggestions remain until you accept or reject them.
Will comments always appear in the PDF?
That depends on export settings and workflow. Check the exact PDF you will submit and inspect Word beforehand rather than assuming one universal outcome.
Should I delete the reviewed working file?
A preserved working version can aid traceability. Use a clearly named, cleaned final file for export and submission.