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Understanding Track Changes and Markup Notation in N-Spec

Key Points:

  • N-Spec supports both MS Word track changes and conventional markup notation
  • Do not mix both types of markup within the same paragraph
  • Choose one consistent approach throughout your document

Supported Markup Types

N-Spec supports two different approaches for marking amendments in claim text:

  1. MS Word Track Changes: Using Word's built-in change tracking functionality
  2. Conventional Markup Notation: Using:
    • Strikethrough or double brackets for deletions
    • Bold and underline for additions

Important Guidelines

⚠️ Critical: Do not mix track changes and conventional markup notation within the same paragraph. This can cause N-Spec to process amendments incorrectly.

Choose one consistent approach throughout your document:

  • Either use MS Word track changes for all amendments
  • Or use conventional markup notation (strikethrough/brackets and bold/underline) for all amendments

Recommended Approaches

Option 1: Using Track Changes

  1. Make all deletions using Word's track changes feature
  2. Make all insertions using track changes
  3. Before filing, convert tracked changes to conventional markup notation if required

Option 2: Using Conventional Markup

  1. Accept any existing tracked changes
  2. Use strikethrough or double brackets for deletions
  3. Use bold and underline for insertions

Common Issues

Problem: Struck-out text still appears in N-Spec's analysis

Solution: Check if you have mixed markup types in the same paragraph. Convert all markup to one consistent format.