Using SpeedGrader Comment Library

Last updated on February 25, 2026

Tools: SpeedGrader Library

Occasionally, you might find yourself repeating the same feedback again and again when reviewing multiple students’ submissions for an assignment. Canvas has recently launched a Comment Library in SpeedGrader to help with this problem. You can now add frequently used comments into the SpeedGrader Library and then insert them into the grading comments box for multiple students or assignments. Using this tool lets you cut out some redundancy and save time while grading. This might be particularly helpful with large classes or with topics that have common misconceptions.

There are, however, some limitations to the SpeedGrader Comment Library. You can add an unlimited number of comments to any given submission from the comment library, however the library comments will replace any text you’ve already written into the comment box. You will want to submit any previously written comments before inserting the library comment. Also, SpeedGrader Comment Library does not currently work with rubric grading.

Best practices

• You can edit your comments by clicking Manage Comment Library from within SpeedGrader, then selecting the edit (pencil) icon next to the comment you wish to edit.
• Select “Show Suggestions When Typing” from Manage Comment Library if you want the SpeedGrader Comment Library to predict which comments you might want to use.

Let’s walk through it together

Use the Speedgrader Comment Library

1. Log in to yourCanvas Account.
2. Select the Course you’d like to work in.
3. Click on Grades from the Course Navigation Menu on the left.
4. Hover your cursor over the Name of the item you want to grade.
5. Click the More Options Menu (three vertical dots) that appears next to the name.
6. Select SpeedGrader.
7. Click on the Manage Comment Library (text bubble) icon above the comment box.
8. Select the toggle next to Show suggestions when typing if you want Canvas to provide suggestions.
9. Click the drop-down menu under Show saved comments for to change where you want to save the comment or to view specific comments.
   • The default is All Comments. You can also select This Assignment to sort comments by specific assignments.
10. Type the Comment you wish to submit to the comment library into the textbox that says “Add Comment to Library.”
11. Click Add to Library.
12. Click the pencil icon to edit a saved comment.
13. Click the trashcan icon to delete a saved comment from the library.
14. Click on the Saved Comment to automatically add it to a student’s feedback comment box in Speedgrader.
    • Note: This will override any unsubmitted comments that were previously typed into the text box.