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Google Docs is an excellent alternative to many other word processing applications, and it allows users to communicate with collaborators about specific parts of a document without having to send an email or message them. Here's how you can add comments in Google Docs.

Adding comments in Google Docs is a useful way to add notes, suggestions, or questions for other collaborators in the document. Comments are an excellent way for teachers to add specific notes for the author/student who wrote the file. Adding comments is also available for Slides and Sheets and is virtually the same, but we will be using Docs in our examples below.

Note: To add and reply to comments, you first need to have edit/comment access to the document.

Related: How to Create Shareable Download Links for Files on Google Drive

How to Add Comments in Google Docs

In a document on which you have editing or commenting rights, highlight or place your cursor next to the text, image, cell, or slide to which you want to add a comment. Click either the comment icon in the toolbar or the one that appears on the righthand side of the document.

A comment box opens up. Type in your comment and then click "Comment" to submit your notes.

All comments appear on the right side of the document. Comments are threaded, and all you have to do to reply to one is click on it, type a reply, and then click "Reply."

Once the comment is on the document if you need to make any changes, delete it, or generate a link that brings the person clicking on it directly to your comment, click the three dots located on the right of the comment.

If you need to send a comment to a specific person, you can mention them (with the first letter of their name capitalized), and they'll receive an email notifying them of your comment.

Note: If the person doesn't already have permission to comment/edit the file, you will be asked to share it with them.

Once you've read and replied to any comments, you can mark them as "Resolved" and get them out of the way.

Related: How to Set an Expiration Date When Sharing Files on Google Drive