Comments allow your readers to add feedback to your posts and pages.  Comments extend the conversation allowing your readers to interact with you and each other.

It’s amazing how even just a few comments can make student realise they are writing for a global audience — for many is incredibly motivating.

Comments are an important part of both the readers and writer’s learning process.

Default Comment Settings

By default, comments are enabled on all newly created sites, and a comment form will appear at the bottom of posts and pages where readers can respond to what you’ve written.

Here is what a comment form looks like:

Comment form

Approved comments are displayed under the individual post or page, not on the post page.  Click on the post title to read the comments.

The latest comments can be displayed on the post page by adding the recent comments widget to the sidebar.

Comment Management

The default comment setting on all newly created sites is ‘Comment author must have a previously approved comment before a comment appears’.

This means any visitors that have had a comment approved on your site in the past will have their comment immediately posted and only comments from new visitors are placed in the moderation queue.

The administrator has complete control of comments left on their site and can change comment moderation at any time in Settings > Discussion.  To moderate all comments you need to change it to “Comment must be manually approved”.

Users assigned the role of administrator or editor are able to approve pending comments and manage comments.  Contributors can’t see pending comments.

You can also turn off comments.

Adding a comment

You add a comment as follows:

1.  Click on the post title or the “comment” link at the top or at the bottom of the post.

Post title

2. Scroll down the page to the comment form or click on Reply – to reply to a specific comment.

3.  Enter your name and email address – your email address is hidden and only an administrator or editor of the site sees it.  If you are logged into your account you won’t need to add these details.

4.  Write your comment.

5.  Enter the anti-spam word.

6.  Click ‘Submit Comment’.

Here’s an example of a comment form filled in. 

Comment form

Add Comment Video

Edit comments

Only administrator or editor are able to edit or delete comments left on your site.  If you need a comment deleted or edit you need to ask the site owner to do this.

Threaded Comments

Threaded comments allow readers to reply to other comments inline/nested which encourages better discussion and responses.

Here is an example of a threaded comment on the post:

Threaded comments