Comments
Leave feedback on specific passages with threaded replies, reactions, and mentions.
FAQ ↓Comments let collaborators leave feedback tied to specific text in a document. Each comment opens a thread where others can reply, react, and eventually resolve the discussion.
Working with Comments
Adding a Comment
- Select the text you want to comment on
- Click the comment icon in the floating toolbar, or press
Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + M - Type your comment
- Press Enter to post
The selected text is highlighted in yellow, and the comment appears anchored to that passage.
Viewing Comments
Highlighted text in the document indicates an active comment. Click the highlight to open the associated thread.
To browse all comments at once, open the comments panel from the toolbar. An unread indicator appears in the top bar when new comments or replies have been added since your last visit. You can keep several threads expanded at once; opening one thread does not close the others.
Replying
Open any comment thread and type a reply at the bottom of the thread. Press Enter to post. Replies appear chronologically within the thread, keeping the full conversation in one place.
Comment Features
Reactions
Hover over any comment or reply to reveal the emoji picker. Six reactions are available:
| Reaction | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Thumbs up | Agreement or approval |
| Thumbs down | Disagreement |
| Heart | Appreciation |
| Laugh | Humor |
| Check mark | Done or confirmed |
| Party | Celebration |
Click a reaction to toggle it on or off. Hover over a reaction count to see who reacted.
Mentioning Collaborators
Type @ inside a comment or reply to search for collaborators by name. Select a person from the dropdown to mention them. Mentioned collaborators receive a notification directing them to the comment thread.
Resolving Comments
When a comment has been addressed, click Resolve at the top of the thread. Resolved comments are hidden from the default view to reduce clutter.
To see resolved comments, toggle Show resolved in the comments panel filter. You can reopen a resolved comment if the discussion needs to continue.
Sorting and Filtering
Use the controls at the top of the comments panel to focus the list:
- Filter by Open or Resolved status
- Filter by one or more authors, or choose Anyone to clear the author filter
- Sort by Newest first, Oldest first, Most recently active, or Severity
Your sort choice is remembered across sessions. After a Peer Review completes, click View Comments to open the panel already filtered to the comments generated by that review.
Exporting Comments
When you export a DOCX, unresolved threads are preserved automatically as native Word annotations with their text, replies, and author information. Resolved threads are not exported.
Selecting and Comparing Threads
Multiple threads can remain open at the same time, including their expanded replies. You can also select and copy text from a comment card without collapsing its thread.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + M | Add a comment on selected text |
Esc | Close the current comment thread |
Best Practices
- Be specific. Select the exact passage you are commenting on rather than highlighting an entire paragraph.
- Use replies instead of new comments. Keep related feedback in one thread so context is preserved.
- Resolve promptly. Once a comment has been addressed, resolve it to keep the comments panel focused on open items.
- Use reactions for quick acknowledgment. A thumbs-up or check mark can replace a “looks good” reply.
- Mention collaborators when you need specific input. An
@mentionensures the right person sees the comment.