How do I add comments to a specific part of my document in Adobe Acrobat?

Open your PDF in Acrobat. Go to the 'Comment' tools. Choose a tool like 'sticky note' or 'text box'. Click on the document where you want to add the comment. Type your comment in the box that appears.

What is the difference between highlighting text and adding a sticky note in Adobe Acrobat?

Feature Purpose Visibility. Highlight Text To draw attention to specific words or sentences. Changes the background color of the text. Sticky Note To add a longer comment or question about a specific area. Appears as an icon; click to open the note.

What are 'drawing markup' tools in Adobe Acrobat, and when would I use them?

Drawing markup tools let you add shapes, lines, and freehand drawings to your PDF. You would use them to circle important areas, draw arrows to point things out, or sketch quick diagrams. They are useful for visual feedback or to highlight non-text elements in a document.

Annotate Settlement Memo in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Annotate the draft settlement memo with questions for opposing counsel: add callout comments on…+

Annotate the draft settlement memo with questions for opposing counsel: add callout comments on pages [pages=3–7] where terms are unclear, mark three spots that need dates or thresholds, then send the annotated PDF to me before the [deadline=4pm] call.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

BImprove — “do it better”Before the call with opposing counsel, make our questions clear and actionable: annotate the…+

Before the call with opposing counsel, make our questions clear and actionable: annotate the settlement memo with numbered callouts tied to specific clauses, include a short rationale for each question and a suggested alternative where helpful, and export a clean copy showing only comments so I can share targeted items during the [deadline=4pm] call.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

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

AnnotationAn annotation is a note or mark added to a document, like a highlight or a stamp, without changing the original text.ExampleHe added an annotation to the PDF, circling a key sentence and adding a question mark.

MarkupHighlighting, underlining, or drawing on a PDF to show what is important.ExampleYou use the markup tool to highlight key sentences in the report.

CalloutA special comment box with a line that points to a specific part of your document.ExampleA callout box with an arrow highlights a specific paragraph needing revision.

Who does this

3 roles

EditorTeacherProject Manager

FAQ

about this task

Open your PDF in Acrobat.
Go to the 'Comment' tools.
Choose a tool like 'sticky note' or 'text box'.
Click on the document where you want to add the comment.
Type your comment in the box that appears.

Feature	Purpose	Visibility
Highlight Text	To draw attention to specific words or sentences.	Changes the background color of the text.
Sticky Note	To add a longer comment or question about a specific area.	Appears as an icon; click to open the note.

Comments are often a separate layer on top of your document. If you share a 'final' file without flattening or sanitizing it, the comments might still be recoverable data or appear differently for others. To ensure your comments are part of the main document or to remove them completely before sharing, use the 'Protect > Sanitize' feature in Acrobat. This process either removes all comments or makes them a permanent part of the document, preventing unintended leaks or changes in appearance.

Drawing markup tools let you add shapes, lines, and freehand drawings to your PDF.
You would use them to circle important areas, draw arrows to point things out, or sketch quick diagrams.
They are useful for visual feedback or to highlight non-text elements in a document.

Yes, you can add comments to a document even if you are only reviewing it. Adobe Acrobat's comment tools are designed for collaboration and feedback. This means anyone with access to the document can use sticky notes, highlights, and other markup tools to share their thoughts and suggestions, regardless of who created the original file. This makes document review much easier and more interactive for teams.

Annotate Settlement Memo

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help