# Copying text with MS Word--want to copy to new style, not keeping old style **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 14, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949 "2010-01-14T17:41:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949/1 "2010-01-14T17:41:18Z")
One feature of MS Word which I do find annoying (I think this has been going on all along, not just in Word 2007) is the fact that if I try to copy text that has style characteristics attached to it, when I copy it into the new document, it brings the old style characteristics along. Often, I’d prefer to copy the text _into_ the _new_ style, rather than dragging the old style along. So for example, it might keep some unusual margin settings from the old document, when I’d rather it just paste in the text using the _new_ document’s margin settings. (Making sense here?) Is there a way to have Word use the new document’s style features by default, or at least, certain features or kinds of features? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949/2 "2010-01-14T17:45:16Z")
Paste special -\> Unformatted Text. Maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949/3 "2010-01-14T17:48:01Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Paste special -\> Unformatted Text Yes, that’s the way to do it each time. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell, there’s no way to do it as a default, and there’s no keyboard short-cut for the command. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949/4 "2010-01-14T17:55:01Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Yes, that’s the way to do it each time. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell, there’s no way to do it as a default, and there’s no keyboard short-cut for the command. Well, ctrl-alt-v gets you halfway there, and that’ll do. Thanks for the quick responses! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949/5 "2010-01-14T18:27:53Z")
You can try [PureText](http://www.stevemiller.net/puretext/) which is a small exe that allows you to paste completely stripped text using start-v. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949/6 "2010-01-14T19:38:37Z")
[This thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=538000&highlight=word+unformatted+text)from a couple of months ago might have an answer for you. Of particular interest is: > [@Roland Orzabal](#): > > 1. If you’re using **Word** 2007, you can do this by clicking Office (circular button in upper left) -\> **Word** Options -\> Advanced, then under “Cut, copy, and paste”, selecting “Keep **Text** Only” from each of the drop-downs. If you’re using 2003, the only way I know of to do this is to create a macro and assign it to Ctrl + V; if this is the case, let me know and I’ll post detailed instructions. ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949/7 "2010-01-14T19:42:18Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > [This thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=538000&highlight=word+unformatted+text)from a couple of months ago might have an answer for you. Of particular interest is: I think you’re close: Office Button -\> Word Options -\> Advanced -\> Cut, copy, and paste -\> Pasting between documents -\> Match Destination Formatting. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949/8 "2010-01-14T20:12:26Z")
> [@MrSquishy](#): > > I think you’re close: > > Office Button -\> Word Options -\> Advanced -\> Cut, copy, and paste -\> Pasting between documents -\> Match Destination Formatting. Eureka! I just upgraded to Office 2007 at work last week. I’ve been looking for that option _forever!_ ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949/9 "2010-01-14T20:37:31Z")
I always add a “Paste Special” button just for that reason. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949/10 "2010-01-14T20:49:36Z")
> [@MrSquishy](#): > > I think you’re close: > > Office Button -\> Word Options -\> Advanced -\> Cut, copy, and paste -\> Pasting between documents -\> Match Destination Formatting. I get a button that pops up every time I paste and every time I have to choose between “Match Destination Formatting” and “Keep Original Formatting” (or something like that). I. HATE. THIS. WTF is wrong with those losers at Microsoft? It’s a huge pet-peeve of mine. That should totally be an option under preferences somewhere so I can choose to “ALWAYS use destination formatting.” My job requires me to collect information from several different documents submitted by different people, it’s the most freaking annoying inconvenience to have that extra step every tiime. I also hate how hard it it to get rid of hyperlinks when I just want the text. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949/11 "2010-01-14T20:54:34Z")
I have a very simple macro set up for pasting unformatted text. It’s tied to alt-v and one of my mouse buttons (it has 12 — _very_ useful for working with Word). I have no idea if this is overkill or not, but: ```auto Sub PasteUnformat() ' PasteUnformat Macro ' Selection.PasteSpecial Link:=False, DataType:=wdPasteText, Placement:= _ wdInLine, DisplayAsIcon:=False End Sub ``` You could obviously record that on the fly as well. If you’re on a Mac, Office disabled the creation of new macros, but getting Applescript to do the same is fairly easy. If anyone’s interested, let me know. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949/12 "2010-01-14T20:59:48Z")
I guess I’m doing it the hard way, but I use a two-step process with Notepad in the middle when I want to lose the original formatting: (1) Copy from source doc and paste into Notepad (2) Copy from Notepad and paste into destination doc. Copying into Notepad causes the text to lose all formatting, so when you copy it out of Notepad and into your destination doc you are only pasting “pure text” and it takes on the style of the surrounding text. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949/13 "2010-01-14T21:43:57Z")
Shoeless, have you met ZipperJJ? PureText is an excellent little program. There’s a little “PT” logo now in my tool tray (I mean the bottom right corner of my screen, if I’m not calling it right). I copy something into the clipboard, then click that PT logo - nothing appears to happen except the logo throbs a little - and then paste into the destination. It comes across as ordinary text, like what Notepad uses. I used Shoeless’s method (but with my favorite editor) until somebody here told me about PT. Now I only write ransome notes if I am actually kidnapping somebody - which isn’t often… ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949/14 "2010-01-14T22:51:52Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > I have a very simple macro set up for pasting unformatted text. It’s tied to alt-v and one of my mouse buttons (it has 12 — _very_ useful for working with Word). I have no idea if this is overkill or not, but: > > ```auto > > Sub PasteUnformat() > ' PasteUnformat Macro > ' > Selection.PasteSpecial Link:=False, DataType:=wdPasteText, Placement:= _ > wdInLine, DisplayAsIcon:=False > End Sub > > ``` > > You could obviously record that on the fly as well. > > If you’re on a Mac, Office disabled the creation of new macros, but getting Applescript to do the same is fairly easy. If anyone’s interested, let me know. You could make the macro a button or assign it Ctr Shift V so it maintains the same paste logic. Just did this with my older version of Word and it works nicely both ways except now that I named the Macro I can’t rename it or link it to a symbol. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949/15 "2010-01-14T23:16:23Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > You could make the macro a button or assign it Ctr Shift V so it maintains the same paste logic. Just did this with my older version of Word and it works nicely both ways except now that I named the Macro I can’t rename it or link it to a symbol. Exactly – I used alt-V to keep as much muscle memory as possible. I’m gearing up to post my omnibus Word 2007 GQ thread, but in the meantime, do you know any way to edit the button images? Word used to have this rudimentary pixel editor for changing things. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949/16 "2010-01-14T23:26:28Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Exactly – I used alt-V to keep as much muscle memory as possible. I’m gearing up to post my omnibus Word 2007 GQ thread, but in the meantime, do you know any way to edit the button images? Word used to have this rudimentary pixel editor for changing things. No, I have 97 and the new version. Spent 45 minutes on 97 with no luck. And it just doesn’t name the button what you give it, it shows Normal.dotname. It’s not like I need the real estate but it looks tacky. I know I’ve done this before but it was probably Excel. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949/17 "2010-01-14T23:28:54Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > I get a button that pops up every time I paste and every time I have to choose between “Match Destination Formatting” and “Keep Original Formatting” (or something like that). > > I. HATE. THIS. > > WTF is wrong with those losers at Microsoft? It’s a huge pet-peeve of mine. That should totally be an option under preferences somewhere so I can choose to “ALWAYS use destination formatting.” My job requires me to collect information from several different documents submitted by different people, it’s the most freaking annoying inconvenience to have that extra step every tiime. > > I also hate how hard it it to get rid of hyperlinks when I just want the text. While I usually love to join in on a Microsoft hating, I can’t quite agree with this one. There are times that I want to copy & paste so that the text copied retains its original formatting; there are other times when I want it to match the destination formatting. It’s about 66%-34% in my case, so I figured out how to set the options as I need it; but I also know what when I want it the other way I can use the pop-up mini-menu that appears whenever I paste something. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949/18 "2010-01-14T23:52:36Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > No, I have 97 and the new version. Spent 45 minutes on 97 with no luck. And it just doesn’t name the button what you give it, it shows Normal.dotname. It’s not like I need the real estate but it looks tacky. I know I’ve done this before but it was probably Excel. Heh… I just did a build and started with Office 2K and this time told the 2007 installation to save my previous version. When I get to feeling nostalgic I open it up and stare at the toolbars, the glorious, customizable and floatable toolbars. Ahhh. If it helps, once you’re in the customization menu (ah, customization) you can right-click a button and select “edit.” ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949/19 "2010-01-15T00:22:30Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > I get a button that pops up every time I paste and every time I have to choose between “Match Destination Formatting” and “Keep Original Formatting” (or something like that). > > I. HATE. THIS. > > WTF is wrong with those losers at Microsoft? It’s a huge pet-peeve of mine. That should totally be an option under preferences somewhere so I can choose to “ALWAYS use destination formatting.” Office Button | Word Options | Advanced | Cut, copy, and paste | disable “Show Paste Options buttons” Sincerely, loser at Microsoft. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949/20 "2010-01-15T01:21:23Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > Shoeless, have you met ZipperJJ? > > PureText is an excellent little program. There’s a little “PT” logo now in my tool tray (I mean the bottom right corner of my screen, if I’m not calling it right). I copy something into the clipboard, then click that PT logo - nothing appears to happen except the logo throbs a little - and then paste into the destination. It comes across as ordinary text, like what Notepad uses. > > I used Shoeless’s method (but with my favorite editor) until somebody here told me about PT. Now I only write ransome notes if I am actually kidnapping somebody - which isn’t often… Just to close this loop, I did the exact same thing 🙂 Always went from app -\> notepad -\> app until someone here linked to PureText and now my life is wonderful! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-text-with-ms-word-want-to-copy-to-new-style-not-keeping-old-style/524949.md?page=2)