How to circle text or an answer in a PDF

The fastest way: draw a circle by hand

The freehand draw tool is the quickest way to ring an answer or a single word. Pick the pen, choose a color (red is the classic grading choice), and drag a loop around the item you want to call out. It behaves like a felt-tip marker on paper.

Because it's freehand, the loop won't be a perfect geometric circle, and for most call-outs that's exactly the point. A hand-drawn ring reads as a human mark, which is what you want when grading a quiz or flagging a line in a contract for a colleague.

• Open your PDF in the editor (drag it in or pick a file).
• Select the freehand draw tool and set a color and line thickness.
• Drag a loop around the word, number, or multiple-choice option.
• Repeat for each item, then download the marked-up file.

Want a clean shape? Box it with the rectangle tool

If a wobbly hand-drawn ring isn't tidy enough, the rectangle tool gives you a crisp, straight-edged box around the same content. It's ideal for boxing a selected option on a form, a total on an invoice, or a clause you want someone to read first.

Drag from one corner to the opposite corner to size the box. Use a colored outline so the original text stays fully readable inside the box rather than being covered up.

• Pick the rectangle tool and choose an outline color.
• Drag a box around the answer or section you're calling out.
• Resize or reposition it until it frames the item cleanly.
• Add more boxes for other items as needed.

Underline or strike an option with the line tool

Sometimes a ring or a box is more than you need. The line tool draws a straight line wherever you drag, so you can underline the correct answer, draw a connector, or strike through an option that no longer applies.

Combine the tools for clarity: a circle around the right choice and a line through the wrong one makes a marked-up multiple-choice sheet instantly easy to read. If you also want to write a comment, the editor's text and sticky-note tools let you add a short note next to your mark.

Who circles things in a PDF, and why it's better locally

Teachers grading worksheets, students answering multiple-choice tests, reviewers flagging a number on a report, and anyone selecting an option on a flat form all reach for the same move: draw attention to one item without retyping anything.

• Teachers and graders: circle correct answers, ring mistakes, and mark a score.
• Form-fillers: box the option you're choosing on a non-interactive PDF.
• Reviewers: call out a figure, date, or clause for a colleague to check.
• Privacy: the file is edited in your browser and never uploaded, so student work, signed forms, and internal documents stay on your machine.