How do I add a highlight to text in my PDF using Comments & Annotations?

Open your PDF in Acrobat. Go to the 'Comment' tools on the right side. Select the 'Highlight' tool (it looks like a marker). Click and drag your mouse over the text you want to highlight. The text will change color.

What is the difference between a sticky note and a text box in Comments & Annotations?

Feature Description Best Use. Sticky Note A small icon appears on the page, and the comment shows in a pop-up when clicked. Quick, short notes attached to a specific spot without taking up much space. Text Box A visible box with text directly on the page. Longer comments or explanations that you want to be immediately visible to the reader.

If I receive a PDF with many Comments & Annotations, how can I easily review them all?

Open the PDF in Acrobat. Look for the 'Comments' panel, usually on the left or right side of the screen. This panel lists all comments and annotations in the document. You can click on each comment in the list to jump to its location on the page. You can also filter or sort comments by type, author, or status to manage them better.

Missed Consultant Markups in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

CDecide — “help me choose”We're weeks from handover and I must compile and certify the final as‑built documents, but some…+

We're weeks from handover and I must compile and certify the final as‑built documents, but some consultant markups are late and I worry about gaps. I need to know whether to certify now with exceptions noted or wait and delay handover. Diagnose the risk of certifying with documented exceptions versus delaying and draft the certification note that protects the office and gives the owner a clear path to close. [ladder=L5]

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

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

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.

SanitizeTo remove sensitive or private information from a document before sharing it.ExampleRemember to sanitize the document by redacting personal details before sharing it publicly.

Who does this

3 roles

EditorTeacherProject Manager

FAQ

about this task

Open your PDF in Acrobat.
Go to the 'Comment' tools on the right side.
Select the 'Highlight' tool (it looks like a marker).
Click and drag your mouse over the text you want to highlight. The text will change color.

Feature	Description	Best Use
Sticky Note	A small icon appears on the page, and the comment shows in a pop-up when clicked.	Quick, short notes attached to a specific spot without taking up much space.
Text Box	A visible box with text directly on the page.	Longer comments or explanations that you want to be immediately visible to the reader.

Comments and annotations are a separate layer of data on top of your main PDF content. If you share a 'flattened' version of the PDF or use certain printing options, these layers might not be included. To ensure your comments are always visible to others, make sure you save the PDF with comments enabled and avoid 'flattening' the document unless you intend to make the comments a permanent part of the main content. Always check the file before sending it.

Drawing markup tools let you add shapes like circles, arrows, or lines directly onto your PDF. These are very useful when you need to point to specific parts of an image, diagram, or graph. For example, you can circle a problematic area in a photo or draw an arrow to show where text should be moved. They help make your feedback very clear and visual, especially when text comments are not enough.

Open the PDF in Acrobat.
Look for the 'Comments' panel, usually on the left or right side of the screen.
This panel lists all comments and annotations in the document.
You can click on each comment in the list to jump to its location on the page.
You can also filter or sort comments by type, author, or status to manage them better.

Missed Consultant Markups

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help