How to Use a Highlighter in MS Word (2016)

This guide shows you how to use the marker functionality in Microsoft Word (2016 edition) in order to markup pages or highlight text with freeform highlighting. This is a helpful tool when providing feedback to partners or reviewing documents.

Writing with a marker in Microsoft Word is a great way to highlight forms, add a callout, or get creative. Using the marker function is also called ‘inking’ or ‘drawing’ and can be found from the Draw tab. This lets you ‘highlight’ with either a mouse, your finger, or a computer pen.

The steps on this page will show you how to use the marker function in Microsoft Word (2016 version) so you can highlight typed text. Check out the guided steps below.

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How to use a highlighter (Quick Steps)

You can user the marker functionality as a highlighter in Microsoft Word in few simple steps.

1) Turn on the Draw tab option in Microsoft Word (if disabled)

1. From the top of Microsoft Word, click File, then Options.
2. Click the Customize Ribbon tab, click the check box labeled Draw, then click OK.

2) Select a marker option and start writing

1. Click the Draw tab (at the top) once you’ve enabled it in Word.
2. Click a Marker option. There’s a few default options, and you can customize them with the Color and Thickness drop-downs.
3. Use your mouse, finger, or computer pen to start highlighting text on the document.

3) Erase marking (if needed)

1. From the Draw tab, click Eraser.
2. Click the object or text that you’ve written.
3. The eraser will remove the entire object that was highlighted in one motion.

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How to Highlight with a Marker (Guide with images)

You can user the marker functionality as a highlighter in Microsoft Word in few simple steps.

Step 1 – Turn on the Draw tab option in Microsoft Word

In order to highlight on a document, you’ll need to pick options from the Draw tab in Word. The Draw tab may be turned off by default, which is why you may not see it.

1. From the top of Microsoft Word, click File, then Options.
2. Click the Customize Ribbon tab, click the check box labeled Draw, then click OK.

Step 2 – Select a marker option and write

There’s a lot of different options available to highlight in Word, from selecting a Marker type, to thickness, and even mapping it to a shape.

1. Click the Draw tab (at the top) once you’ve enabled it in Word.
2. Click a Marker option. There’s a few default options, and you can customize them with the Color and Thickness drop-downs.
3. Use your mouse, finger, or tablet pen to start highlighting text on the document.

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Step 3 – Erase writing

You can erase writing on a Word doc using the eraser.

1. From the Draw tab, click Eraser.
2. Click the object or text that you’ve highlighted.
3. The eraser will remove the entire object that is connected. Note that the highlight disappeared below on the word ‘Wallet’

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How to Write with a Pen in Microsoft Word

If you want to do more than highlight, you can also use functionality to freeform write in MS Word. Check out our guide: How to Write with a Pen or Marker in Microsoft Word (2016 version)