Docly practical guide
AI Document Editing: Review Every Change Before It Lands
Pasting a document into a chat window and copying the result back breaks two things: the formatting and the audit trail. Nobody can later say what changed or why. Keeping the edit attached to the document solves both at once.
The suggestion is shown first
When AI proposes a change, the document is not modified. The current text and the proposed text are shown against each other, and nothing is written until you accept it.
That matters most on documents that carry responsibility — contracts, proposals, reports — because every change you approve is a change you have seen.
Track Changes in Word
In Word documents, accepted edits can be carried as tracked changes. The file then fits the review process your organisation already uses, and nobody has to learn a new tool.
Whoever reviews it accepts or rejects the changes in Word exactly as they normally would.
What this looks like for PDFs
With a PDF open you can ask for a summary, an explanation of a section, or a direct question. Answers come back with the page they were drawn from, so you can verify them.
Finding which page holds the detail you need is faster than reading a long document end to end.
Allowance and your own key
AI features run on a Docly account with a monthly free allowance, so you can try them without a commitment.
You can also connect your own provider key and work against your own quota, which is the practical option for teams with heavier usage.
Quick checklist
- ✓Ask for suggestions section by section on long documents — they are easier to review.
- ✓Verify AI output against the source wherever numbers are involved.
- ✓Use the Track Changes workflow in Word so the approval history stays with the file.
- ✓Check the cited page when you ask a document a question.
Tools in this guide
Frequently asked questions
Does AI apply changes directly?
No. A suggestion is shown as a comparison and is written into the document only after you accept it.
Can I use my own AI key?
Yes. Connect your own provider key and work against your own quota.