How do I add a sticky note to a PDF using Comments and Annotations?

Open your PDF in Acrobat. Go to the 'Comment' tools panel. Select the 'sticky note' icon. Click on the page where you want the note. Type your message in the note box that appears.

If I want to mark specific text for review using Comments and Annotations, what is the best tool to use?

Use the 'Highlight' tool to make text stand out. Use 'Underline' to suggest emphasis or a need for review. Use 'Strikethrough' to suggest text should be removed. For more detailed feedback on specific text, use a 'Text Box' or 'Callout' to write longer notes next to the marked text.

How do Comments and Annotations help in reviewing a document compared to editing the original text directly?

Feature Comments & Annotations Editing Original Text. Original Content Keeps original text untouched, comments are a separate layer. Changes the original text directly, potentially losing previous versions. Collaboration Allows multiple reviewers to add feedback without conflict. Can lead to version control issues and overwriting changes. Purpose Ideal for suggestions, questions, and non-permanent feedback. Used for final changes and corrections to the document itself.

Notes Not Counsel-Ready in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

DBecome — “help me grow”Look at the last [N=40] investigation reports I’ve produced where counsel returned them for…+

Look at the last [N=40] investigation reports I’ve produced where counsel returned them for clarification. Identify the recurring missing element or phrasing that triggers counsel questions, and prescribe one change to how I record findings that would cut counsel rework in half.

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

CommentA note or message added to a file to give feedback or ask questions.ExampleYou add a note to a report asking the author to clarify a specific paragraph.

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.

FlattenTo combine all comments and layers into the main document so they cannot be easily changed or removed.ExampleAfter review, you flatten the document to make all comments a permanent part of the text.

Who does this

3 roles

EditorTeacherProject Manager

FAQ

about this task

Open your PDF in Acrobat.
Go to the 'Comment' tools panel.
Select the 'sticky note' icon.
Click on the page where you want the note.
Type your message in the note box that appears.

Comments are general notes, like sticky notes or text boxes, that you add to a PDF. Annotations are specific types of comments that mark or highlight parts of the document, such as underlining text, striking through words, or drawing shapes. Both serve to add feedback without changing the original document content, but annotations are more about direct visual marking.

Comments might seem to disappear if the person you share with is using a different PDF viewer that doesn't fully support Acrobat's comment features, or if the comments layer was accidentally hidden. To ensure comments are always visible, you can 'flatten' the PDF before sharing. Flattening makes comments a permanent part of the document, so they cannot be hidden or removed easily. This is different from sanitizing, which removes them.

Use the 'Highlight' tool to make text stand out.
Use 'Underline' to suggest emphasis or a need for review.
Use 'Strikethrough' to suggest text should be removed.
For more detailed feedback on specific text, use a 'Text Box' or 'Callout' to write longer notes next to the marked text.

Feature	Comments & Annotations	Editing Original Text
Original Content	Keeps original text untouched, comments are a separate layer.	Changes the original text directly, potentially losing previous versions.
Collaboration	Allows multiple reviewers to add feedback without conflict.	Can lead to version control issues and overwriting changes.
Purpose	Ideal for suggestions, questions, and non-permanent feedback.	Used for final changes and corrections to the document itself.

Notes Not Counsel-Ready

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help