About text compare
Text compare shows exactly what changed between two versions of a text. It is useful for contracts, essays, code and copy that passes through several people.
Reading the highlights
Added words are highlighted in one colour and removed words in another. Changes are shown word by word, so a small edit in a long paragraph is easy to spot.
Good uses
- Checking what an editor or colleague changed.
- Comparing two versions of terms, policies or agreements.
- Confirming that two files or configuration snippets really match.
Tip
Paste the older version on the left and the newer on the right so additions and removals read in the natural direction.
A worked example
Original: 'Payment is due within 30 days.' Revised: 'Payment is due within 15 days of the invoice date.' The comparison highlights 30 as removed, 15 as added and 'of the invoice date' as added, so the changed deadline cannot be missed.
Reviewing carefully
Small changes such as a moved decimal point or a swapped name matter most in contracts and figures. Read every highlighted word, and check the unchanged text around important numbers too.
