How do you print redlines but not comments in Microsoft 365 Enterprise Word?

Dear @Beckie Figg,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum.

I understand you're having issues with the Modern Comments feature in Word, which is deeply integrated into the Office 365 Enterprise interface. In this version, the standard "Comments" checkbox can be missing or greyed out in the "Show Markup" menu, as the system treats comments as a separate, permanent layer in the document.

If the "Comments" checkbox is missing from your "Show Markup" menu, it is because Modern Comments are enabled. Disabling them temporarily restores the classic menu where you can uncheck comments individually.

1. Go to File > Options > General.
2. In the User Interface options section, uncheck the box for Enable modern comments.
3. Restart Word (this is required for the change to take effect).
4. Now, go to the Review tab > Show Markup. The Comments option should now be visible and selectable. Uncheck it.

To print your redlines (track changes) while hiding the comment balloons, you can use one of the following methods:

1. Change the Balloon Behavior

You can force the comments to move "inline," which removes the large vertical gray bar on the right side of the page during printing.

1. On the Review tab, in the Tracking group, click the Show Markup dropdown.
2. Select Balloons > Show All Revisions Inline.
3. This will pull all deletions and formatting changes into the text itself (as redlines) and hide the balloons on the side.

Note: This might still show small comment icons, but it will significantly reduce the width of the comment area.

2. Shrink the Comment Area for Printing

If you prefer to keep the balloons but want them to stop taking up so much space on the printed page, you can manually set the width of the markup area.

1. On the Review tab, click the small dialogue launcher arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Tracking group.
2. In the Track Changes Options window, click Advanced Options...
3. Under the Balloons section, find Preferred width.
4. Change this from the default (often 2.5" or 6.5cm) to a smaller number, such as 1.5". This will squeeze the comment balloons into a narrower column when printing.

I hope this information is helpful. Please follow these steps and let me know if it works for you. If not, we can work together to resolve this. Thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to share them in the comments so I can continue to support you. I'm looking forward to your reply.

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