Copy word text with formatting

Word for Microsoft 365 Word 2021 Word 2019 Word 2016 Word 2013 Word 2010 More…Less

In Word, you can choose to paste text using the formatting of the source, destination, or just pure text. If you always want one of the options, set it as the default for pasted text.

Set default paste options

By default, Word preserves the original formatting when you paste content into a document using CTRL+V, the Paste button, or right-click + Paste. To change the default, follow these steps.

  1. Go to File > Options > Advanced.

  2. Under Cut, copy, and paste, select the down arrow for the setting to change .

    • Pasting within the same document    When you paste content into the same document from which you copied the content.

    • Pasting between documents    When you paste content that was copied from another Word document.

    • Pasting between documents when style definitions conflict    When you paste content that was copied from another Word document, and the style that is assigned to the copied text is defined differently in the document where the text is being pasted.

    • Pasting from other programs    When you paste content that was copied from another program, such as a browser.

    Copy - paste options in Word

  3. Each setting has options you can set:

    Keep Source Formatting

    Merge Formatting

    Keep Text Only

    For more info on these options, see Get the look you want.

  4. Select OK.

Notes: 

  • You can also select Set Default Paste from the Paste Options  Paste options button menu.

  • Paste menu with set default paste selected

Change options when pasting content

When you copy content from a formatted source, such as a webpage or another Word document, you can select options at the time you paste it into your document.

  1. Click or tap where you want to paste the content.

  2. Press CTRL + V and then select Paste Options  Paste options button.

  3. Hover over the buttons for a live review.

    Paste drop down with cursor hovering over text

  4. Select the paste option to use.

The Paste Options  Paste options button button lets you select formatting options and is on by default. If you don’t see the button, it might be turned off. Follow these steps to turn it on.

  1. Go to File > Options > Advanced.

  2. In the Cut, copy, and paste section, select Show Paste Options button when content is pasted.

  3. Select OK.

If the setting is on but you don’t see the button when you paste, make sure you’re pasting formatted content, not pure text (like from NotePad.)

When you copy text from a Word document, webpage, or other app’s document and paste it into a Word document, you can choose how the text is formatted. You can keep the original formatting, merge with the destination formatting, or paste just plain text.

  • Keep Source Formatting (K)    This option retains formatting that was applied to the copied text. Any style definition that is associated with the copied text is copied to the destination document.

  • Merge Formatting (M)    This option discards most formatting that was applied directly to the copied text, but it retains formatting that is considered emphasis, such as bold and italic, when it is applied to only a portion of the selection. The text takes on the style characteristics of the paragraph where it is pasted. The text also takes on any direct formatting or character style properties of text that immediately precedes the cursor when the text is pasted.

  • Picture (U)   
    This option is only available on Microsoft 365 Subscription. Converts text into an image and pastes that. The text can’t be changed, but you can treat it like any other picture or image and use effects, borders, or rotation. When selected, choose options from the Picture Format tab.

  • Keep Text Only (T)    This option discards all formatting and nontext elements such as pictures or tables. The text takes on the style characteristics of the paragraph where it is pasted and takes on any direct formatting or character style properties of text that immediately precedes the cursor when the text is pasted. Graphical elements are discarded, and tables are converted to a series of paragraphs.

When you paste items from a bulleted or numbered list into another list, you can keep their original formatting or sequence, or blend in with the numbering or bullets of the destination list.

Paste numbered items so the sequence continues    Choose Continue List (C) to have inserted items stay in sequence in the list.

Keep original sequence on numbered items    Choose New List (N) to have inserted items keep their original list sequence.

Paste bulleted items into a numbered list    To keep the bullets, choose Keep Source Formatting (K). To convert bullets to numbers, choose Merge Formatting (M).

Paste numbered items into a bulleted list    To keep the original numbers, choose Don’t Merge List (D). To convert the numbers to bullets, choose Merge List (M).

Paste Text Only lists    By default, bullets and numbers are preserved when pasting text only. To turn this behavior off:

  1. Go to File > Options > Advanced.

  2. Clear Keep bullets and numbers when pasting text with Keep Text Only option.

  3. Select OK.

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The simplest way to copy format from one character, word, paragraph, or other elements in Microsoft Word, is
to use the Format Painter button (on the Home tab, in the Clipboard group). Still,
with keyboard shortcuts, it is faster.

If you have an element of text such as character, word, several words, phrase, etc. with some formatting
and want to copy this formatting to another element, do the following:

Ist method: using Format Painter:

   1.   Select the text with the formatting to copy.

   2.   On the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click the
Format Painter button:

Format Painter in Word 2016

Note: If you want to apply that formatting multiple times, double-click the Format
Painter
button. In standard, the mouse pointer changes to include a paintbrush.

   3.   Select the text that you would like to change using the selected
format.

Notes: To copy the formatting to a single word, just double-click the word. Otherwise,
drag over the destination text to format.

If you double-clicked the Format Painter button, continue making selections until you’re done
applying the copied formatting. Press Esc or click the Format Painter button again to
deactivate it.

IInd method: using shortcuts:

   1.   Select the text with the formatting to copy.

   2.   Press Ctrl+Shift+C to copy the formatting of the selected
text.

   3.   Select the text to which you want to apply the copied formatting.

   4.   Press Ctrl+Shift+V to apply the formatting to the selected
text.

Note: These methods work for different elements in Word document, but there are some
tricks for copy formatting of paragraph and numbering (see how
to copy paragraph or numbering format without changing the text format).

See also this tip in French:
Comment copier le format facilement et rapidement.

Copy Text Formatting in Microsoft Word using the Format Painter or Keyboard Shortcuts

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated April 14, 2022

Applies to: Microsoft® Word® 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 or 365 (Windows)

In Microsoft Word, you can copy text formatting quickly and easily using the Format Painter or keyboard shortcuts. You can copy character formatting only (such as font, size, and bold) or both character and paragraph formatting which would include alignment, indents and line spacing. In Word, a paragraph is anything with a hard return after it.

Recommended article: How to Check Word Count in Microsoft Word (4 Ways)

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To view hard returns or paragraph marks and other nonprinting characters in Microsoft Word:

  1. Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
  2. Click Show/Hide ¶ in the Paragraph group. Paragraph marks, tabs, spacing and other nonprinting characters will display but will not print. Click the same command to hide the paragraph marks and other nonprinting symbols.

1. Copying text formatting using the Format Painter

The Format Painter is a great tool for copying formatting. It appears on the Home tab in the Ribbon in the Clipboard group:

Format painter in Word to copy formatting.

To copy text formatting using the Format Painter:

  1. Select the text with the formatting you want to copy. Select characters only (such as a word or words) if you want to copy character formatting. Select an entire paragraph if you want to copy character and paragraph formatting.
  2. Click the Format Painter on the Home tab in the Ribbon in the Clipboard group. If you want to copy formatting to multiple instances of text, double-click the Format Painter.
  3. Drag over the text to which you want to copy the formatting. If you drag over characters only, Word will copy character formatting. If you drag over an entire paragraph or paragraphs, Word will copy character and paragraph formatting.
  4. Repeat if necessary by dragging over other text to which you want to copy formatting (if you had double-clicked the Format Painter).
  5. To turn off the Format Painter, press Esc.

2. Copying text formatting using keyboard shortcuts

To copy text formatting using keyboard shortcuts:

  1. Select the text with the formatting you want to copy. Select characters only (such as a word or words) if you want to copy character formatting. Select an entire paragraph if you want to copy character and paragraph formatting.
  2. Press Ctrl + Shift + C.
  3. Drag over the text to which you want to copy the formatting. If you drag over characters only, Word will copy character formatting. If you drag over an entire paragraph or paragraphs, Word will copy character and paragraph formatting.
  4. Press Ctrl + Shift + V.
  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for other instances of text.

3. Copying paragraph formatting only

To copy paragraph formatting only:

  1. Ensure that paragraph marks are displayed.
  2. Drag over the paragraph mark of the paragraph with the formatting you want to copy.
  3. Press Ctrl + C.
  4. Drag over the paragraph mark of the paragraph with the formatting you want to replace.
  5. Press Ctrl + V.
  6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for other instances of text.

This article was first published on October 24, 2021 and has been updated for clarity and content.

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Click in text that has the formatting to replicate, and press CTRL-SHIFT-C. It’ll copy the formatting, but not the text itself. Highlight the target text and press CTRL-SHIFT-V to paste the formatting.

Contents

  • 1 How do you copy and paste and keep formatting?
  • 2 How do I copy and paste without changing formatting in Word?
  • 3 Why does Word change formatting when I paste?
  • 4 How do you keep formatting in an email?
  • 5 How do I copy and paste the same format in Word?
  • 6 How do you copy the same format in Word?
  • 7 How do I stop Word from changing formatting?
  • 8 How do you copy paste as it is?
  • 9 How do you paste formatting in Excel?
  • 10 What does Ctrl Shift V do?
  • 11 How do you keep formatting in Word?
  • 12 How do you paste into an original format on a Mac?
  • 13 How do you paste formatting in Outlook?
  • 14 How do I copy and paste formatting in Gmail?
  • 15 How do you copy formatting in Outlook?
  • 16 How do you copy paragraph formatting in Word?
  • 17 How do I paste without changing formatting Mac?
  • 18 How do you copy and paste and use the same font?
  • 19 What is AutoFormat as you type?
  • 20 What is the easiest way to copy and paste?

How do you copy and paste and keep formatting?

By default, Word preserves the original formatting when you paste content into a document using CTRL+V, the Paste button, or right-click + Paste. To change the default, follow these steps. Go to File > Options > Advanced. Under Cut, copy, and paste, select the down arrow for the setting to change .

How do I copy and paste without changing formatting in Word?

To manually paste text without formatting, you can click Paste in the Clipboard section of the Home tab and select the Keep Text Only option. If you want to use Ctrl + V to paste text, the text will be pasted with the formatting by default.

Why does Word change formatting when I paste?

Text takes on the style of the recipient document
So when you paste your text into the other document, it takes on the formatting of Normal style in that other document. If the Normal style in the other document is Arial 11pt, then that’s how your text will appear.

How do you keep formatting in an email?

Click on the mail format tab and then editor options. Next click on the advanced options on the left. Scroll down a little ways and you will see the cut, copy, and paste options. Drop down each option and select match destination formatting or keep text only.

How do I copy and paste the same format in Word?

Click in text that has the formatting to replicate, and press CTRL-SHIFT-C. It’ll copy the formatting, but not the text itself. Highlight the target text and press CTRL-SHIFT-V to paste the formatting.

How do you copy the same format in Word?

How to copy format easy and quickly

  1. Select the text with the formatting to copy.
  2. Press Ctrl+Shift+C to copy the formatting of the selected text.
  3. Select the text to which you want to apply the copied formatting.
  4. Press Ctrl+Shift+V to apply the formatting to the selected text.

How do I stop Word from changing formatting?

Click AutoCorrect. A dialog box appears. Select the Autoformat As You Type Tab. Deselect on uncheck the desired options (such as Ordinals with superscript, Hyphens with a dash or Fractions with fraction character).

How do you copy paste as it is?

Highlight the text you want to copy. Use the shortcut key combination Ctrl + C on a PC or Command + C on a Mac to copy the text. Move the text cursor to where you want to paste the text. Press Ctrl + V on a PC or Command + V on a Mac to paste the text.

How do you paste formatting in Excel?

Using Copy and Paste for Formatting

  1. Select the cell or cells whose format you wish to copy.
  2. Press Ctrl+C or press Ctrl+Insert.
  3. Select the cell or cell range into which you want the formats pasted.
  4. Choose Paste Special from the Edit menu.
  5. Choose the Formats radio button.
  6. Click on OK.

What does Ctrl Shift V do?

By.

How do you keep formatting in Word?

Choose Review, Protect Document (or choose Developer, Protect Document) and then click Restrict Formatting and Editing. Word displays the Restrict Formatting and Editing task pane. Click to activate the Limit Formatting to a Selection of Styles check box.

How do you paste into an original format on a Mac?

Click where you want the text to appear, then do one of the following:

  1. Paste the text with its current formatting into a new paragraph: Choose Edit > Paste, or press Command-V on the keyboard.
  2. Paste and match the style of the text where you’re pasting: Choose Edit > Paste and Match Style.

How do you paste formatting in Outlook?

Fortunately, there’s an easy way to prevent this from happening, by changing the application settings in Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Word. (If you’re using a Mac, you can just use the “Paste and Match Style” keyboard shortcut: Command-Option-Shift-V, to just paste plain text.

How do I copy and paste formatting in Gmail?

If you’re using Chrome, you can paste text into your emails without carrying over its formatting by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+V (Command-Shift-V for OS X). If you’d like to keep the formatting of the text you’re pasting, the Gmail Strike button is for you.

How do you copy formatting in Outlook?

Use the Format Painter

  1. Select the text or graphic that has the formatting that you want to copy.
  2. On the Home tab, click Format Painter.
  3. Use the brush to paint over a selection of text or graphics to apply the formatting.
  4. To stop formatting, press ESC.

How do you copy paragraph formatting in Word?

Copying Paragraph Formatting

  1. Select the paragraph where you want to copy the formatting.
  2. On the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click Copy Formatting.
  3. Select the paragraph(s) where you want to replace the formatting.
  4. On the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click Paste, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+V.

How do I paste without changing formatting Mac?

macOS lets you paste text without its original formatting. Instead of pressing “Command+V”, press “Option+Shift+Command+V” to paste text without any formatting.

How do you copy and paste and use the same font?

On some — but not all — apps, when you press Ctrl-V (Win)/Cmd-V (Mac), you can press Shift too. This activates “Paste and Match Style”, which converts the text to the same style as the destination document.

What is AutoFormat as you type?

The AutoFormat As You Type tab provides options for formatting that occurs automatically based on what you type. Using this feature can minimize the need to apply changes from the Ribbon.

What is the easiest way to copy and paste?

The keyboard command for copy is Ctrl + C, and the keyboard command for paste is Ctrl + V.

Copying and pasting content in Word documents is a common task. However, you can also copy and paste formatting from one block of text (including images) to another. This can be handy if you want to apply the same formatting to multiple areas in your document.

NOTE: We used Word 2013 to illustrate this feature.

To copy the formatting from a block of text and/or images, highlight the content.

NOTE: To copy both text and paragraph formatting, select an entire paragraph, including the paragraph mark. To make this easier, you can show paragraph marks by showing non-printing characters.

In the “Clipboard” section of the “Home” tab, click “Format Painter.”

The cursor changes to a paint brush. Select the text to which you want to copy the formatting. When you release the mouse button, the formatting is copied to the selected text, as shown in the image at the beginning of this article.

To copy formatting to multiple blocks of text and/or images, double-click the “Format Painter” button. Then, you can apply that formatting to other areas of your document. To stop copying formatting, click the “Format Painter” button once more or press the “Esc” key.

NOTE: For copying formatting from graphics, the “Format Painter” tool works best with drawing objects, such as AutoShapes. However, you can also copy formatting from an inserted picture (such as the picture’s border).

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