Word paste no format

@Kira Resari’s Word-specific, one-step shortcut is much better than having to learn and execute a sequence of keypresses every time you need to paste unformatted text. But I’m with @noseratio, a general solution for that works throughout Windows is even better. AutoHotkey is great for the purpose, if you need or might use it for other reasons as well.

The code excerpt below shows how I’m currently doing it in AutoHotkey. Note that this script preserves the original content of the Windows clipboard so that you can still paste formatted text if you need it elsewhere or change your mind.
My particular shortcut is Ctl+v pressed twice in very quick succession, just because I find it easier to remember than a combo like Ctrl+Shift+V. But if you want a separate shortcut such as Ctrl+Shift+V, follow the shortcut definition line with the portion of the code beginning with beginning on the line after CopyUnformattedFromClipboardand continuing through and including the next Return (delete everything else).

Please consult the AutoHotkey docs for details on how this works. I very likely cribbed the timer routine (that decides whether Ctrl+V twice in quick enough succession) from a generous AutoHotkey expert, but am unable to give them their due credit now.

; hit Ctl+v twice really fast to paste unformatted text
; Ctl+v pressed repeatedly, just with a little more time between presses, still pastes formatted text
; timings here seem about right but you can fiddle with the Sleep and delay settings (currently the latter is 175)
; SEE "MultiPress hotkey function.ahk" for explanation

$^v::
    Action := MultiPress("CopyRegularFromClipboard, CopyUnformattedFromClipboard",175)
Return
    CopyRegularFromClipboard:
        Send, ^v
    Return
    CopyUnformattedFromClipboard:
        Clip0 = %ClipBoardAll%
        ClipBoard = %ClipBoard% ; Convert to plain text
        Send, ^v
        Sleep 500 ; to make sure the clipboard is emptied I guess? (before transferring the original formatted back text to it)
        ClipBoard = %Clip0%
        VarSetCapacity(Clip0, 0) ; Free memory
    Return

TakeAction:
        SetTimer, TakeAction, Off
        if (IsLabel(Action))
            Gosub, %Action%
        Sleep 200
        ;Tooltip required to shut off the notification if used
    Return

MultiPress(actionList = "", delay = 500)
{
    Static pressCount := 0

    pressCount := ( ((A_PriorHotKey = "") || (A_ThisHotKey = A_PriorHotKey))
                    && (A_TimeSincePriorHotkey < delay) ) ? (pressCount + 1) : (1)
                
    if (actionList = "")  ;this option flags to just return count to caller
        Return pressCount

    SetTimer, TakeAction, % delay
    Loop, Parse, actionList, `,, %A_Space%
        if (A_Index = pressCount)
            Return A_LoopField
    Return False
}

The copy and paste shortcuts are among the most used in the world. Many people copy and paste information dozens of times per day, making it important that the feature works quickly and efficiently.

Unfortunately, however, that is often hampered by the formatting of the text’s source. When pasting from an article, for example, the pasted text may retain any headings, italics, and more. Today we’re going to show you how to paste without formatting so you can keep your workflow optimized.

Paste without formatting / paste as plain text

There are several tricks you can use to paste without formatting – but unfortunately not every application honors all of them. As a result, you may want to use a mixture of the methods shown below or use the third-party tool highlighted later on.

Without further ado, here’s how to paste without formatting in Word, Google Docs, or any other application:

How to Paste Without Formatting From a Document to an Email

How to Paste Without Formatting in Word and Microsoft Office

How to Paste as Plain Text Anywhere in Windows

If you want to paste without formatting anywhere in Windows using the same shortcut, you can make use of a third-party tool called PureText. PureText is available on the Microsoft Store and is free, lightweight, and unobtrusive to use.

How to Copy Text Without Formatting Using a Text Editor

How to Clear Formatting in Word and Remove a Horizontal Line

That’s all there is to it. You know how how to paste without formatting in Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Chrome, and any other application that takes your fancy. If you already pasted content into Word with formatting, however, you may want to follow our guide on how to remove or clear formatting to get rid of it. While you’re there why not learn how to remove those pesky horizontal lines that appear when using three dashes?

Usually, the pasted text has its formatting, so you need to reformat it after pasting, or paste the copied text with the option Keep Text Only (see below how to paste block as a text).

You can customize Word to paste any block of text without its formatting:

   1.   On the File tab, click Options:

   2.   In the Word Options dialog box, on the Advanced tab, under Cut, copy, and paste:

• In the Pasting within the same document list, choose how to paste the content into the same document from which you copied the content:
  • Keep Source Formatting (Default)
  • Merge Formatting
  • Keep Text Only
• In the Pasting between documents list, choose how to paste the copied content from another Word document.
• In the Pasting between documents when style definitions conflict list, choose how to paste the copied content from another Word document if the style assigned to the copied text is defined differently in the destination document.
• In the Pasting from other programs list, choose how to paste the content that was copied from another program, such as a browser, PDF files, etc.:

Note: If you copied some block of text to the Clipboard and then want to paste it into a document without changing the current formatting, on the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, in the Paste list, choose Keep Text Only:

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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.

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.