how to remove name from word comments

Daniel Parker

2 min read

·

05-02-2025

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Word's commenting feature is great for collaboration, but sometimes you need to clean up those comments, perhaps for privacy or to share a cleaner version of your document. Removing names from Word comments can be done in a few ways, depending on whether you want to remove only the names or the entire comments. This guide will walk you through several methods to help you achieve a clean and polished document.

Removing Names Only (Preserving Comments)

This method is ideal when you want to keep the comment content but remove the author's name for privacy or to anonymize feedback. Unfortunately, there's no single button to directly remove just the names. You'll need to edit each comment individually.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Open the Word document: Locate and open the document containing the comments you want to modify.

2. Navigate to the comments: Click on "Review" in the ribbon at the top of the screen. You'll see the commenting tools here.

3. Select a comment: Click on the comment you wish to edit. This will highlight it.

4. Edit the comment: In the comment box, highlight the author's name and delete it. Repeat for each comment.

Removing the Entire Comment

If you wish to remove the comment entirely—both the name and the text—the process is simpler.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Open the document: As before, open the Word document you're working with.

2. Access the comments: Go to the "Review" tab in the ribbon.

3. Delete comments: You'll see a "Delete" button in the "Comments" section of the Review tab. Click on it to remove the selected comment. For multiple comments, you can select them individually or use the "Select All Comments" option if needed. This removes the entire comment, including the name and text.

Removing Comments Using VBA (For Advanced Users)

For those comfortable with Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), you can automate the process of removing names or entire comments from multiple documents. This is particularly helpful if you regularly need to clean up comments in many documents. This method requires some coding knowledge. Here's a basic example that removes the entire comment:

Sub DeleteAllComments()
  Dim com As Comment
  For Each com In ActiveDocument.Comments
    com.Delete
  Next com
End Sub

Important Note: Always back up your document before running VBA code. Incorrect code can potentially damage your file.

Tips and Considerations

• Multiple Documents: If you need to remove comments from many documents, consider using the VBA approach.
• Review and Save: After removing comments, always review your document to ensure everything is as expected before saving.
• Version Control: If collaboration is crucial, consider using version control systems or saving multiple versions of your document before making significant changes.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage comments in your Word documents, ensuring privacy and a clean final product. Remember to choose the method that best suits your needs and comfort level. Remember to save your document after making these changes.