One major feature that has distinguished Microsoft Word from Google Docs was the ability to track changes as a document is edited.  The “track changes” feature in Word grants editor status by allowing another user to make edit suggestions in the body of a document without actually changing the underlying document.  The suggested edits become integrated into the document once approved by the document author.  Instructors have traditionally used the track changes feature to make edit suggestions while grading student assignments.

This time-saving feature is now available within Google Documents.  To begin, open a Google Doc and click the pencil icon on the right side of the toolbar :

Choose “suggesting” mode:

Suggested edits will appear in green.  Each edit will be accompanied by a box in the margin listing the edit and allowing the author to accept or delete the suggested edit.