<p>I re-wrote my essay on an existing one, and saved it. When I opened it, Word asked if I want to revert to a saved version or something, I clicked NO, yet, my essay is back to its old version, and the new one is gone.</p>
<p>Did you delete those files they asked you to revert to?
If not, then it is somewhere on your computer.
I recommend search for it on the C drive.</p>
<p>If so,
Unless Word for Mac is different, you probably lost it.
That reverting thing was asking if you wanted to change to the new version. Somehow the file was not saved before you exited the program; Word automatically kept the changes and then asked you.</p>