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How to reply with inline comments (tracking changes) in Outlook?

Author Kelly Last modified

In Microsoft Word, when you want to remark some information or track changes, it's easy to apply the "New Comment" feature. Similarly, when you need to remark the original email message or track changes when replying, you can apply the "Inline comment" feature (see the following screenshot). Here let's introduce you about how to add inline comments in original email messages when replying in Microsoft Outlook, and insert comments as those in Microsoft Word documents at any place in Outlook messages.

the screenshot of replying with inline comments (tracking changes) in Outlook 1
the screenshot of replying with inline comments (tracking changes) in Outlook 1

Reply with inline comments (tracking changes) in Outlook

No matter where you type your comments in the original email messages when replying, the following steps will make your comments strike the recipients' eyes easily.

Step 1: Click the "File" > "Options".

Step 2: In the Outlook Options dialog box, click "Mail" in the left bar.

Step 3: Go to the "Replies and forwards" section, and check the "Preface comments with:" option, and then enter some preface text in the following box. See the following screenshot:

the screenshot of step about replying with inline comments (tracking changes) in Outlook 1

Step 4: Click the "OK" button to exit the dialog box.

Up to now, you have turned on the "Inline Comment" feature. When you are replying, any content (comments) you type in the original email messages will be formatted with a distinguishing font color, and marked with your specified preface text. See the following screenshot:

the screenshot of step about replying with inline comments (tracking changes) in Outlook 2

Notes:
(1) If the original email message is plain text, the inline comments (tracking changes) will only be marked with your specified preface text but not formatted with a special font color.
(2) If you are using Outlook 2007 or earlier versions, please click "Tools" > "Options", and then in the Options dialog box click "E-mail Options" button > check "Mark my comments with:" option and type preface text in the following box. See screenshots below:

the screenshot of step about replying with inline comments (tracking changes) in Outlook 3
the screenshot of step about replying with inline comments (tracking changes) in Outlook 4

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Insert comments same as those in Microsoft Word with Kutools for Outlook

Sometimes, you may think the inline comments are not obvious enough to attract the attention of recipients. And sometimes you also want to insert comments in new composing messages. Do not worry, with "Kutools for Outlook"'s "New Comment" utility you can easily insert comments same as those in Microsoft Word documents in messages.

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When you are composing new messages, or replying/forwarding messages, select the text you will add a comment for, and then click "Kutools" > "New Comment".

the screenshot of step about inserting comments same as those in Microsoft Word with Kutools for Outlook 1

Now you will see the same comment as that in Microsoft Word is inserted into the message at once. See the screenshot above.

Note: This utility works well in Outlook 2007 and 2010, but does not work in Outlook 2013.


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