By: Shamima Sultana

In reply to Jan.

Hello Jan,

It sounds like your comments are showing as Notes (the older style) rather than the new threaded Comments. That’s why they only appear when you hover or use shortcuts like CTRL.
In newer versions of Excel, Microsoft changed the default “Comment” feature into threaded comments, while the old ones are now called “Notes.”

If you want them always visible, you can right–click the cell >> select Show/Hide Notes (or use the Review tab >> Notes >> Show All Notes).

Regarding your mention of Word styles, that’s a different feature set, but sometimes Office updates can reset or change default behavior across apps. A quick Office repair or checking Update Options might help restore consistency.

Regards,
ExcelDemy