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How to Highlight and Comment on a PDF for Review

Written and fact-checked by The EditPDF AI Team

Reviewing a document with highlights and comments makes feedback specific and traceable to exact passages, in a format any recipient can open without special software.

A practical review workflow

  1. 1Open editpdfai.com/pdf-annotate and upload the document you are reviewing.
  2. 2Highlight specific passages as you read, using different colors for different types of feedback if that helps you stay organized — for example, one color for questions and another for required changes.
  3. 3Add a comment attached to each highlight explaining what needs attention.
  4. 4Download and send the annotated PDF back to whoever needs to act on the feedback.

Keeping feedback clear and actionable

  • ·Write comments as specific instructions rather than vague reactions — "clarify this figure's source" is more useful than "confusing"
  • ·Use a consistent color scheme across a document so recipients can scan for the type of feedback that matters most to them
  • ·Number or reference comments if the same document will go through multiple review rounds, so it is clear which feedback has already been addressed
Export all comments as a listDownload every comment, author, and location as CSV or JSON.Compare revisions after feedbackCheck what changed once your comments have been addressed.
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