# Word for ediscovery specialists on Mac: compare and template steps for Microsoft 365

> Word for ediscovery specialists on Mac: compare two versions without touching the original, build review templates, and use Lazur in Word.

URL: https://www.lazur.app/for/ediscovery-specialists/word
Updated: 2026-11-09

Word for ediscovery specialists on Mac means the normal Word app for macOS. You do not need a separate build to do review work. The features that matter most are Compare Documents, templates, Track Changes and a few file format rules. This guide covers each one, a license change Microsoft published for 2026, and where Lazur helps while your hands stay on the keyboard.

## Quick answer

- Check your build first with Word > About Word. Microsoft's release notes list 16.114.3 as the newest Mac build, dated October 27, 2026.
- Run Review > Compare > Compare Documents to build a redline. The original file stays untouched, and the changes appear as revision marks in a new document.
- Save memo layouts as .dotx templates with File > Save as Template. Open them later with File > New from Template.
- Moved text shows up only in .docx files with Track Moves on. A .doc file in Compatibility Mode does not qualify.
- Microsoft says that from July 13, 2026, some Mac Office installs may open files but not edit, save or create them. Check your license now.

## What Word for ediscovery specialists on Mac covers

Word for ediscovery specialists on Mac is the normal Word app for macOS. You do not run a special eDiscovery build. Microsoft's known-issues page names Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac, Word 2024 for Mac, and Word 2021 for Mac. Those are the versions it covers today.

Most review days depend on three features. Compare Documents shows what changed between two drafts. Templates keep your memos and logs in the same shape. Track Changes records edits so a reviewer can accept or reject each one. The rest of this page builds on those three.

Start by checking your build. Open Word and choose Word > About Word. Microsoft's release notes list 16.114.3 as the newest Mac build, dated October 27, 2026. An older build can show different menu names, so your screen may not match every step here.

## Where Word fits in document review

Document review costs a lot of money. RAND's 2012 study, as summarized by CloudNine, attributes typically about 73 percent of eDiscovery production costs to document review. That work covers relevance, responsiveness, and privilege. The RAND report was not available to check directly, so treat the number as secondhand.

- **About 73%** Typical share of eDiscovery production costs that goes to document review, per RAND (2012) ([source](https://cloudnine.com/ediscoverydaily/electronic-discovery/ediscovery-trends-where-does-the-money-go-rand-provides-some-answers/))

That share explains why small Word habits matter. A clean compare, a stable template, and a clear file name save time on every pass. They also lower the chance that someone reviews the wrong draft.

### Jobs that land in Word during review

- Comparing two drafts of a memo, declaration, or cover letter
- Redlining wording that a supervising attorney will read
- Writing review memos from one template with the same headers
- Drafting cover notes for a production set
- Keeping a simple review log in a table you can read and print

![An ediscovery specialist at a desk reviews documents, the kind of work Word for ediscovery specialists on Mac supports](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/role-app/ediscovery-specialists-word/word-for-ediscovery-specialists-on-mac-1-59ae9a.jpg)

## Compare two versions without touching the original

This is the workflow most people search for. Word builds the differences into a new document. Your two source files stay as they were. Microsoft's steps look like this.

1. Open one of the two versions in Word.
2. Go to Review > Compare > Compare Documents.
3. In the Original document box, choose the older file.
4. In the Revised document box, browse to the newer file.
5. Click OK. Word opens a new document with revision marks.
6. Save the new document under a new name with ⌘⇧S.

Combine Documents does a different job. Microsoft lists it under Review > Compare as a way to merge two versions. Use it when two reviewers each edited the same draft and you need one file with both sets of changes. Check the author on each markup before you accept anything.

## Worked example: one memo through two rounds of edits

Start with the files, not the software. Save draft four as Privilege_memo_v04_2026-11-09.docx. Save draft five as Privilege_memo_v05_2026-11-09.docx. Put both in one folder called Compare.

Run Review > Compare > Compare Documents. Set draft four as the Original document. Browse to draft five as the Revised document, then click OK. Word opens a new document. Save it as Compare_v04_v05.docx, so the name shows which pair it came from.

Read the markup from top to bottom. Each deletion should match the older draft, and each insertion should match the newer one. If a sentence looks wrong, open both source files and check that paragraph by hand. The compare shows what Word thinks changed, not what the supervising attorney meant.

Repeat the steps for draft five against draft six. Keep every compare file in the same folder. The chain stays easy to follow, and a reviewer can see each round in order.

## Settings that change what the comparison shows

Comparison settings live in a different menu. Microsoft's page gives the Mac path as Tools > Track Changes > Compare Documents, then the down arrow for more options. That page covers Word 2019 for Mac, so the labels in your version may differ.

### Moved text needs .docx and Track Moves

Word recognizes moved text only in .docx files. A .doc file opened in Compatibility Mode does not qualify, according to a Macs in Law article. Track Moves also has to be on in the Track Changes preferences. That article dates from 2010 and was updated in 2017, so test the setting on a small sample pair before you rely on it.

### A short checklist before you run a compare

- Save both files as .docx, not .doc.
- Turn on Track Moves in the Track Changes preferences.
- Set your author name, so the markup shows who made each change.
- Copy both files into one working folder and leave the originals alone.
- Put the date in the new file name, such as Memo_compare_2026-11-09.docx.

## File names and folders that keep compares honest

Most compare mistakes start with file names. Use the matter, the document type, a version number, and the date. A name like Privilege_memo_v04_2026-11-09.docx tells you what you are looking at without opening it. Keep both versions in the same folder, so you never pair the wrong files by accident.

Give each compare output its own name, such as Compare_v04_v05.docx. The next reader then knows what the file holds.

## When Compare files are grayed out

Microsoft lists a known issue where files appear grayed out when you use Compare. The known-issues page marks it as having a workaround. The page does not date each issue, and it was last updated in July 2026, so the status is unclear from the page alone.

Open the known-issues page and read the workaround listed under this issue. Then check your build with Word > About Word and compare it with the versions the page covers. If the workaround does not fix the problem, send the build number to your IT team.

![A person works on a laptop at an office desk with papers nearby](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/role-app/ediscovery-specialists-word/word-for-ediscovery-specialists-on-mac-2-770daa.jpg)

## Build templates for review memos, cover notes and logs

A template removes repeat work. Build one memo layout with the header, legend, and table you use on every matter. Then start each new memo from the same file. The same layout also makes memos easier to check, because the parts sit in the same place.

Save a template with File > Save as Template. Choose Microsoft Word Template (.dotx) for most cases. Choose Microsoft Word Macro-Enabled Template (.dotm) only if the template runs macros. Microsoft's page lists both formats.

1. Open a finished memo that already has the right headers and table.
2. Delete client names, dates, and case details.
3. Set the header to the legend your firm uses, such as PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL.
4. Choose File > Save as Template and pick Microsoft Word Template (.dotx).
5. Name the template for its job, such as Privilege memo template.
6. Start new memos with File > New from Template and search for the name.

Word saves templates to /Users/username/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Templates by default. Replace username with your account name. If your firm keeps shared templates, change the folder. Go to Word > Preferences > Personal Settings > File Locations, select User templates, click Modify, and enter the new folder path.

Clear the details before you save. A template keeps its text, so a client name left in a header will show up in the next memo. Check the header, footer, and document properties too.

## Save, export and protect review files

Review files travel, so decide the format before you send anything. Keep the source copy as a .docx with its revision marks. A PDF is a copy for sending. The steps for exporting one are in [the save as PDF guide](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/save-as-a-pdf-in-word).

Password protection adds a layer for files that leave your Mac. The steps are in [the password guide](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/password-protect-a-document-in-word). Send the password through a different channel than the file.

If a reviewer has questions about the memo, use Word comments instead of typed notes in the body. The steps are in [how to add a comment in Word](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/add-a-comment-in-word). Comments keep the body clean for the final version.

If Word closes during a compare, look for the unsaved copy before you rerun anything. The [recovery guide](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/recover-an-unsaved-document-in-word) lists the checks in order.

## Check a compare before you trust it

A compare shows what Word thinks changed. It does not prove anything about the file history. Before you rely on the output, open the original and confirm it still has its old text. Then scroll the markup and check that a few known edits appear.

Test with a pair you already understand. Use two drafts where you know the edits, and confirm Word marks each one. If a known change is missing, check the Track Moves setting and the file format first.

## Microsoft 365 license mode from July 2026

This one can stop work cold. Microsoft says that starting July 13, 2026, Office apps on macOS may enter a reduced functionality mode. In that mode you can open and print files. You cannot edit, save, or create new files.

Microsoft lists Microsoft 365 subscribers and non-subscription Office 2021 or 2019 users on macOS as affected. The start date has already passed, so check now rather than on deadline day.

- Open Word and choose Word > About Word to confirm your build.
- Check your Microsoft 365 account or Office license status.
- Ask your IT team whether your firm's Mac installs are affected.
- Read Microsoft's known-issues page for the current details.

## Where Lazur helps while you work in Word

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac that lives in the notch. Hold ⌥ ⌘ to ask about anything on screen, and Lazur answers out loud. It listens and looks at the screen only while you hold the shortcut.

Ask where a control is, and Lazur draws a circle and a label around it. Ask how to do a task, and Lazur guides you one click at a time. Lazur does not click buttons, edit files, or operate Word for you.

Ask where Compare Documents sits in your version, then click it yourself. Lazur points, and you keep control of the file.

![A man uses a Mac laptop keyboard while he takes notes for a review](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/role-app/ediscovery-specialists-word/word-for-ediscovery-specialists-on-mac-3-cbb0c3.jpg)

## Dictate review notes and draft cover text

Hold fn to dictate. Clean, formatted text lands at the cursor in any app, Word included. Use it for review notes, issue tags, and short memos. Speak the note, then fix the wording on screen.

Snippets and the personal dictionary help with repeat terms. Snippets hold text you reuse, such as a standard legend. The personal dictionary holds names and terms that dictation gets wrong, such as custodian names or a matter code.

Lazur can also draft text and type it where you want it. Use that for cover notes. Read every draft before it leaves your Mac. Check names, dates, and document ranges yourself. A drafted sentence can sound right and still be wrong.

Privileged material needs a separate check. Lazur sends audio and the screenshot to AI providers to answer, and they are not stored. Content is never used to train AI models. Your firm still sets the rule for client files, so check it before you ask Lazur about one.

## Mistakes ediscovery specialists make in Word

- Comparing a .doc file in Compatibility Mode and expecting moved text to show as moves.
- Saving the compare output over one of the two source files.
- Running a compare on the wrong pair and not noting which pair it was.
- Trusting an old menu path without checking Word > About Word first.
- Reusing a template with client details still in the header or properties.
- Ignoring the Office license warning until a file will not save.

## What to do next

1. Check your build with Word > About Word.
2. Run one compare on two practice documents, then read the revision marks.
3. Save one memo layout as a .dotx template.
4. Confirm your Office license status before your next deadline.
5. Try Lazur on a practice file first. [Download Lazur](https://www.lazur.app/download) and start the trial, which needs no credit card.

## With Lazur

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac that lives in the notch. Hold ⌥ ⌘ and ask; it sees your screen, answers out loud, points at buttons and walks you through apps. Hold fn to dictate. Free for 3 days, then $18/month: https://www.lazur.app/download

- “Where is Compare Documents in this version of Word?”: Lazur circles the Compare control on the Review tab and labels it, then says the menu path out loud. (Points at it)
- “Where is Compare Documents in this version of Word?”: Lazur draws a circle and a label around the Compare control on the Review tab.
- “Walk me through comparing these two drafts, one click at a time.”: Lazur guides you one click at a time, and it does not click for you.
- “Explain what Track Moves does before I run this compare.”: Lazur explains the setting in plain words.
- “Hold fn and dictate a review note about the privilege call.”: Clean, formatted text lands at the cursor, so you can keep your eyes on the markup.
- “Draft a short cover note for this production set.”: Lazur writes the text and types it where your cursor sits. Check names and dates yourself.
- “Find the current Word for Mac release notes and tell me the newest build.”: Lazur runs the search in its own Chrome tabs and comes back with a summary and a report.
- “Remind me at 4 pm to send the production log.”: Lazur adds the reminder to Apple Reminders so it shows up at the time you name.

## FAQ

### Is there a special version of Word for ediscovery specialists on Mac?

No. Word for ediscovery specialists on Mac is the regular Word app for macOS. Microsoft's Mac support pages describe Compare Documents and templates in that app. The compare page covers Word 2019 for Mac, so menu names can differ on newer builds. Check yours with Word > About Word.

### Which Word build should I run for document review on Mac?

Use the version your firm approves. Microsoft's release notes list 16.114.3, dated October 27, 2026, as the newest Mac build. Third-party trackers list other build numbers, so trust the number shown in Word > About Word on your own Mac.

### Does Compare Documents change my original file?

No. Microsoft says the original copy stays untouched. Word creates a new document that shows the changes from the revised copy as revision marks. Save that new document under a new name, so neither source file gets overwritten.

### Why won't Word show my moved paragraphs as moves?

Word recognizes moved text only in .docx files, not .doc files in Compatibility Mode, according to Macs in Law. Turn on Track Moves in the Track Changes preferences. That article dates from 2010 and was updated in 2017, so test it on a sample pair first.

### Can I use Lazur on privileged documents?

Check your firm's policy first. Lazur listens and looks at the screen only while you hold the shortcut. Audio and the screenshot go to AI providers to answer, and they are not stored. Content is never used to train AI models.

### What is reduced functionality mode in Word for Mac?

Microsoft says that from July 13, 2026, Office apps on macOS may enter a mode where files can be opened and printed but not edited, saved, or created. Microsoft 365 subscribers and non-subscription Office 2021 or 2019 users are listed as affected. Check your status in Word before a deadline.

### Where does Word keep templates on a Mac?

By default, the folder is /Users/username/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Templates. Replace username with your account name. To change it, go to Word > Preferences > Personal Settings > File Locations, select User templates, and click Modify.

## Sources

1. [Compare and merge two versions of a document](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/word/compare-and-merge-two-versions-of-a-document), Microsoft Support, checked 2026-11-09
2. [Create a template](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/word/create-a-template), Microsoft Support, checked 2026-11-09
3. [Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in Word for Mac](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/support/known-issues/fixes-or-workarounds-for-recent-issues-in-word-for-mac), Microsoft Support, checked 2026-11-09
4. [Release notes for Office for Mac](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/release-notes-office-for-mac), Microsoft Learn, checked 2026-11-09
5. [Document Review for Mac-Based Law Firms and Legal Departments](https://lexbe.com/tools/checklists/document-review-for-mac-based-law-firms-and-legal-departments/), Lexbe, checked 2026-11-09
6. [Document Comparison (aka redlining) on a Mac](https://www.macsinlaw.com/document-comparison-on-a-mac/), Macs in Law, checked 2026-11-09
7. [eDiscovery Trends: Where Does the Money Go? RAND Provides Some Answers](https://cloudnine.com/ediscoverydaily/electronic-discovery/ediscovery-trends-where-does-the-money-go-rand-provides-some-answers/), CloudNine, checked 2026-11-09