In my experience, the Mac versions of most Microsoft products have significant glitches. It’s irritating, to say the least.
Perhaps you have auto-save checked in the preferences?
If you select “save as” instead of “save” you should be able to name the file as you wish as well as the location to save the fine, and identify the format you want to save (docx, rtf, etc).
A maybe-you-can-lend-some-assistance ping.
I think it depends on whether the original file was published for multiple people to edit it or it was merely saved. If the first, the original is not altered, and a new “work file” is created leaving the original untouched. If the latter, the original is modified with a changes retained for reversion to the original for the user to revert to previous. So, if you do not recall how you saved it on creation it can get a little confusing.
Doubt this will help you much but you provided a good opportunity for me to ventilate. I use both Windows and macOS.
On both Mac and Windows there has unfortunately been a continuing push for certain “aesthetics” and “dumbing down.”
Now they insist on autosave so good you do not even need to save! Or so they say. Who cares if you never have to look at a filename.
Because their goal is to sell to the masses, not you.
Most of the people who buy technology do not have a CLUE about how it works. They want a pushbutton car that “just goes” and a toaster where they cannot even see heating elements toasting the toast. It’s just not aesthetic. Therefore you may not have a computer or even a program that you really like.
People do not understand overlapping windows, “alt-TAB” or “command-TAB.” They refuse to make an effort to learn them even though they were invented originally because they are a good and useful thing.
They have never really understood folders (directories)...
...Or even a simple standard interface with buttons like “OK” and “Cancel”, or like “Save” and “Cancel.”
As a result we have our computer’s complex “Settings” screens spaced out or scrolling so they do not intimidate — no pop up windows — and no “Accept/OK/Cancel” controls — anything you click just happens right then, good or bad. There is no more making a number of choices and then deciding if you like that new pattern or not, so you can click “OK” or “Cancel.” Nope, that’s just too hard to understand, only instant gratification fits their dumbed down aesthetic.
So the same thing has now come to document management in the OS. It is worse in Apple products at present, but Microsoft being jealous is trying the same things in Windows 10...
It automatically saves! Yea! You and I are not smart enough to handle saving a file with a name, just give in to that idea!
Those “Save” and “Save As...” and “Cancel” boxes are just too hard for us to understand.
You are just supposed to trust the system. In fact you are never even supposed even “quit” the program really, just hide it and move on, all will be well.
Anything it does is what was SUPPOSED to happen, don’t try to out-think the operating system gurus.
Nowadays everything has to look like a text messaging app or it will not sell.
Something glitched and you are getting to see behind the curtain. Pay no attention. Copy and paste into a new document, save nothing, do not close the program, and move on, nothing to see here.
(sorry)
“It’s the way of the future...”