Compare Two Google Docs and Review the Suggested Changes

Compare two fictional workshop drafts in Google Docs, inspect the generated third document, and check four meaningful differences against original practice text.

Google DocsFictional practice dataEnglish captions
Start with a practice file

Try the example, then check the result.

Download the fictional material and follow the steps below. The video uses English illustrative diagrams; it does not present a live app recording. Product controls may vary by version.

Check the answer before applying the method to your own data. How we review guides ↗

Video walkthrough

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The video uses English illustrative diagrams; it does not present a live app recording. English captions. Product menus may differ in your account.

When two drafts disagree, Google Docs can create a third document that displays differences as suggested edits. This exercise uses fictional original and revised workshop notes plus an answer check. No client content is required.

1. Inspect and prepare the drafts

Read both local text files. The original says October 22, 8:45 AM ET, Pine Room and a printed confirmation. The revision says October 23, 9:00 AM ET, Cedar Room and a digital confirmation. Both retain the 45-minute travel allowance.

Create two separate native Google Docs in your own Drive, one for each full text file. Paste the text into the corresponding Doc. Keep them private. Confirm you have two different first lines before running the comparison.

2. Create the comparison

Open the original Doc. Following Google's instructions, choose Tools > Compare documents. Select the revised Doc from Drive. You may enter an attribution label for differences; the practice documents have no comments to include. Choose Compare, then Open.

3. Review the generated third Doc

The new comparison Doc should show changes as suggested edits. Check the four material differences: date, check-in time, room and confirmation format. Also confirm the 45-minute travel allowance remains the same. The tool may represent adjacent changes in a different number of suggestion bubbles; inspect the content, not a bubble count. Do not accept edits blindly.

Google notes that document column layout and table column width are not compared. For a complex real document, review layout separately.

If the comparison seems empty

Check that you selected the other Doc, not the current Doc again. Confirm each native Doc contains the full corresponding text. Reopen the generated comparison file and compare its content against the answer check.

The current Google Docs help was checked 13 October 2026. A private signed-in comparison of the fictional drafts created and verified the third Doc that day. Companion visuals are illustrative diagrams, not screenshots of the private account.

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Practice downloads.

The exercise files contain invented information. Save a local copy before editing.

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