You received a contract, you want to propose changes, and someone told you to "redline it in Word." If you've never done this before — or if you've been doing it the slow way — this guide walks you through the exact steps.
Redlining is the process of marking up a contract with proposed changes during negotiation. The term comes from lawyers literally using red pens on paper drafts. Today it's done digitally using Microsoft Word's Track Changes feature, which shows every deletion, insertion, and edit in a color-coded, reviewable format.
The counterparty can then see exactly what you changed, accept or reject each edit, and send the document back — repeating until both sides agree on final language.
Open the .docx file directly in Word. If you received a PDF, convert it first: in Word, go to File → Open and select the PDF — Word will convert it automatically (formatting may need cleanup).
Go to the Review tab in the ribbon and click Track Changes → Track Changes to toggle it on.
Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + E (Windows) / ⌘ + Shift + E (Mac)
A small indicator appears in the status bar at the bottom confirming Track Changes is active.
Click the dropdown next to Show Markup to choose how edits are displayed:
With Track Changes on, edit normally:
Be specific: don't just delete unfavorable language — propose exact replacement wording so the counterparty has something to respond to.
To prevent the counterparty from turning off Track Changes and editing without a trace, go to Review → Track Changes → Lock Tracking, then set a password. This is standard practice for contract redlining.
Save the file as .docx (not PDF — the counterparty needs to edit it). Email it or share via a secure link. Include a brief note explaining your key proposed changes.
Sometimes you want to flag an issue without rewriting the clause — add a comment instead.
Ctrl + Alt + M on Windows / ⌘ + Option + A on Mac)Comments appear in the margin and are visible to all reviewers. They don't change the document text, but they give context for your edits.
When you receive a redlined document back, use these tools to review it:
Never click "Accept All" without reviewing every change. Counterparties sometimes insert favorable language in minor-seeming edits.
If the contract is in Google Docs, the equivalent of Track Changes is Suggesting mode:
Key difference: Google Docs suggestions are visible in real time to anyone with edit access. Word's .docx format is more standard in legal and corporate settings. If you receive a Word file, keep it in Word — don't convert to Google Docs for redlining.
1. Redlining without reading the whole contract first A change in Clause 5 might contradict something in Clause 12. Always read the full document before marking it up.
2. Deleting without proposing replacement language Striking out a clause without offering an alternative leaves the counterparty with nothing to negotiate. Propose specific wording.
3. Sending without checking who appears as the author Word tracks the name associated with each change. Go to File → Options → General and check your user name before sending — especially important if you're using a shared device or firm account.
Manual redlining in Word catches what you can see — but it doesn't tell you whether the contract is risky in the first place.
Before you redline, or after you've sent your redlines, consider running the contract through an AI review to:
Upload your contract for an instant AI risk analysis →
AI doesn't replace manual redlining — it complements it. You negotiate the specific language; AI catches the issues you might not think to look for.
How do I redline a contract in Word? Enable Track Changes under the Review tab (or press Ctrl+Shift+E), then edit the contract normally. Deletions appear as strikethrough text, additions as underlined text. Save as .docx and send to the counterparty for review.
What is the shortcut to enable Track Changes in Word? Ctrl + Shift + E on Windows, or ⌘ + Shift + E on Mac. This toggles Track Changes on and off.
How do I see all the changes in a redlined Word document? Go to the Review tab and change the view dropdown to All Markup. This shows every insertion, deletion, and comment in the document. Use Simple Markup to see a cleaner version with margin indicators.
Can I redline a PDF contract in Word? Yes — open the PDF directly in Word (File → Open → select the PDF). Word will convert it to an editable document. Clean up the formatting if needed, then enable Track Changes and redline normally.
How do I accept all changes and produce a clean final contract? Once both parties agree, go to Review → Accept → Accept All Changes. This removes all markup and produces a clean document. Save a copy of the redlined version before doing this for your records.
Redlining addresses the clauses you noticed — but the riskiest language is often what you didn't think to look for.
Upload your redlined contract for a full AI risk analysis →
Want to learn more about the redlining process? How to Redline a Contract: Complete Guide →