If you have an original Word file and a revised copy, compare them in Word for Mac before accepting anything. Word creates a separate comparison document with revision marks, so you can inspect what changed while keeping the original file intact. Then review those marks and accept or reject changes only in the copy you plan to keep.

Prepare the two versions

Identify which file is the original and which is the revised version. The original is the starting point; the revised file is the one whose edits you want to inspect. If the filenames are similar, check the document contents or file details first so you do not reverse their roles. The direction matters because Word builds the comparison result from the original and shows differences introduced by the revised copy.

Close any unsaved edits or save the files before comparing. This helps ensure the comparison uses the versions you intend. Word’s documented Mac workflow lets you open either version first, then choose both files in the comparison dialog. Microsoft’s Mac instructions for comparing versions

Compare the documents in Word for Mac

  1. Open either document in Word.
  2. On the Review tab, select Compare, then Compare Documents. If the ribbon is collapsed, expand it or widen the Word window to find the control.
  3. In Original document, choose the starting version.
  4. In Revised document, browse to and select the edited version, then choose OK.

Word creates a new comparison copy based on the original and marks differences introduced by the revised file. Microsoft says the original copy remains untouched. Save the result with a distinct name, such as Draft-comparison.docx, so you can tell it apart from both input files. The exact comparison controls and available settings can vary by Word version; Microsoft’s Mac-specific article applies to Word 2019 for Mac, so if your current version presents different labels, use the Compare command and verify the selected Original and Revised files before proceeding.

Read the comparison before deciding

Treat the new file as a review view, not as a decision about which edits are correct. Work through the marked changes from beginning to end. For each insertion, deletion, or formatting change, check the surrounding sentence or section and decide whether the revised version preserves the intended meaning and structure. Also inspect comments separately: a comment can explain a proposed edit, but it is not itself the change.

If the result is too busy, open the comparison options available from the Compare dialog and adjust which kinds of changes Word displays. The Mac support page documents an options control for changing comparison settings and level of detail, though names may differ between releases. Reducing visual detail can help with a long file, but avoid hiding categories you need to check; return to a fuller view before finalizing if uncertain.

Accept only the changes you have reviewed

Once you have inspected the comparison document, use Word’s Review tab to navigate changes with Next or Previous. Choose Accept or Reject for each change as you reach it. Microsoft documents accepting or rejecting changes one at a time and moving through the document sequentially. Microsoft’s tracked-change review instructions

Do not choose Accept All Changes just to clear the markup unless you have decided every change should remain. Accepting makes a tracked change permanent in that document; rejecting removes it. A No Markup display setting only hides revision marks temporarily, so it does not substitute for accepting or rejecting them. Keep the original and the revised input files until you have checked the reviewed copy and saved it under a clear final filename.

If Compare is missing or the result looks unexpected

First confirm that you are using the desktop Word app and that you are on the Review tab. Microsoft’s Mac-specific comparison article names Review > Compare > Compare Documents for Word 2019 for Mac; it does not establish that every current edition has identical menus. If your installed Word version lacks the command, consult its built-in help or Microsoft Support for that version rather than relying on a command from a different platform.

If the output shows many unexpected differences, check that you selected the intended original and revised files and that they are comparable Word documents. Comparison is meant to identify differences between versions; it does not determine which wording is accurate or whether a formatting change is desirable. Review the marked passages in context before accepting them.

Comparing first gives you a marked record of what differs. Use that record to make deliberate decisions in the separate result document, and preserve the source files until the review is complete.

Sources