Pasting in MS Word (contending with formatting horrors)

Copying (from any source such as a web page, other document, PDF, or email) and pasting into a Microsoft Word document can present itself with the horrors of having to contend with a formatting nightmare. Most individuals select text, copy and then paste. Using the standard method of copy and paste will almost always copy various formatting aspects (font, size, style, images, and other code) and then paste some or all of these unwanted attributes into the MS Word document. Suddenly the text will be bolded, larger, or a different font. However, there is a simple way to strip away the unwanted formatting and paste only the desired text, alleviating the need to spend time reformatting the pasted text.

Use the Paste as Special feature in MS Word, choosing Unformatted Text from the list of options.

In MS Word 2007, you will find the Paste menu on the Home tab. Click on the down arrow and choose Paste Special, then Unformatted Text.

In other versions of MS Word, you will find the Paste Special option under the Edit menu. Click on Edit> Paste Special> Unformatted Text.

The text you previously copied will adapt to the font type, size and styling of where you placed the cursor in your MS Word document.

If you frequently copy and paste text into an MS Word document, consider creating a Dragon voice command to quickly perform this function for you. If you would like assistance with creating this or any other Dragon command, please contact Speakeasy Solutions and we will be pleased to assist you in becoming more efficient.

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2. Key Keyboard Shortcuts to Save You Time (cut, copy & paste)
3. Dragon Disabled by MS Word (loss of functionality)
4. Underline Keyboard Shortcuts and Access Keys
5. Navigating Your Computer via Keyboard (for Creating Dragon Commands)