How do I highlight open exceptions in a PDF using Comments & Annotations?

Open the PDF in Acrobat. Go to Comment tools. Pick the highlight tool. Select the open exception text. Save your changes.

What are Comments & Annotations in Adobe Acrobat and why should I use them?

Comments & Annotations in Adobe Acrobat are tools that let you add notes, highlights, or marks to a PDF. You should use them to point out important parts, ask questions, or give feedback without changing the original document. This makes it easier for others to see what needs attention or review.

If my scan is blurry, can I still highlight open exceptions with the highlight tool?

You can only highlight real text, not images. If your scan is an image, the highlight tool will not work. Try using OCR (text recognition) first, then highlight.

Why is it important to sanitize a PDF before sharing if I used Comments & Annotations?

Sanitizing a PDF is important because comments and highlights are saved as a separate layer in the file. If you share the PDF without sanitizing, anyone can see your notes, questions, or marks, even if you think you removed them. This could share private or unfinished feedback by mistake. Sanitizing removes all these extra layers, so only the clean, final document is shared.

How are highlights different from sticky notes in Comments & Annotations?

Feature Highlight Sticky Note. What it does Marks text with color Adds a pop-up note Visibility Shows on the text Shows as an icon Use Draws attention to text Gives extra explanation

◆ Acrobat · combine

Annotate PDFs in a classroom or education workflow

Combine the quarterly monitoring test result PDFs into one executive report PDF, add comments highlighting open except…

3ready prompts

1real task

3roles

See the prompt↓More combine workflows

When to use it

real situations

A teacher adds comments to a student's essay PDF.
A student highlights important points in a class reading PDF.
A group project team marks up a shared research article PDF.

AI prompts

3 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Help me add comments or highlights to my PDF for...…+

Help me add comments or highlights to my PDF for [class/assignment/topic].

when the reply comes backWould you like tips for faster PDF annotation?

BImprove — “do it better”Suggest ways to organize and improve my PDF annotations for...…+

Suggest ways to organize and improve my PDF annotations for [subject/project].

when the reply comes backNeed help sharing your annotated PDF with others?

CDecide — “help me choose”Help me choose the best way to annotate PDFs for...…+

Help me choose the best way to annotate PDFs for [class/team/purpose].

when the reply comes backWant advice on organizing your notes in the PDF?

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat.
2
Click the Comment button in the toolbar to display the commenting tools.
3
Select the annotation tool you want to use, such as Note, Highlight, Text Box, or Draw.
4
Click on the PDF page where you want to add your comment or annotation.
5
Type your comment or draw your annotation as needed.
6
Click away from the annotation or press Escape to save your comment or annotation.

In the appWith the API

You can use multiple annotation types in one session, such as highlighting text and adding sticky notes for detailed feedback.

This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.

Glossary

words on this page

AnnotateTo add notes or comments to a document.ExampleShe will annotate the draft report with her suggestions before the team meeting.

PDFA common file type used to share documents that look the same everywhere.ExampleShe saved the brochure as a PDF so everyone would see the exact same layout and fonts.

HighlightTo mark text with color to make it stand out.ExampleYou can highlight important sentences in a PDF to review them later.

Who does this

3 roles

EditorTeacherProject Manager

FAQ

about this task

A student can use PDF annotation in English class to highlight key quotes in a story, add notes about characters or themes, and ask questions right on the reading. This helps them understand the text better and makes it easier to find important parts later.

Highlighting means marking important words or sentences with color, so they stand out. Commenting lets you add your own notes or questions in the margin. Both help you study, but comments let you explain your thinking while highlights show what is important.

Teachers can use PDF annotation to give direct feedback on students' work, point out mistakes, and suggest improvements. This makes feedback clear and easy to follow, and students can see exactly what the teacher is talking about.

Yes, groups can share a PDF and each person can add their own notes or highlights. This helps everyone share ideas and makes it easier to discuss the information together.

Annotating a PDF lets you keep all your notes, highlights, and questions in one place, and you can easily search or edit them. On paper, notes can get lost or messy, but PDF annotations stay neat and easy to find.