# Is it possible to copy and paste a list and retain single spacing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Site Feedback\ **Created:** [June 19, 2026, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-copy-and-paste-a-list-and-retain-single-spacing/1031019 "2026-06-19T13:36:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-copy-and-paste-a-list-and-retain-single-spacing/1031019/1 "2026-06-19T13:36:41Z")
I often copy a list from a Word file and paste it into a post. It is single-spaced in Word, but posts as double-spaced in the thread. I have tried toggling CTLR M on and off with no change. Searching the site has not yielded an answer. Thanks! mmm ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-copy-and-paste-a-list-and-retain-single-spacing/1031019/2 "2026-06-19T14:29:07Z")
Are you using control-V to paste? If so, you might try doing a right-click and choosing ‘Paste as plain text’, or shift-control-V, which does the same thing. (Full disclosure: I haven’t tried it.) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-copy-and-paste-a-list-and-retain-single-spacing/1031019/3 "2026-06-19T14:53:31Z")
Are you using Discourse editor in raw or WYSIWYG mode? I bet the latter. Switch to raw and you should be good. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-copy-and-paste-a-list-and-retain-single-spacing/1031019/4 "2026-06-19T15:42:11Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > right-click and choosing ‘Paste as plain text’, That did it, thanks! > [@LSLGuy](#): > > Switch to raw… I poked around but have not yet found how/where to switch this. mmm ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-copy-and-paste-a-list-and-retain-single-spacing/1031019/5 "2026-06-19T15:52:17Z")
At the upper left of the input box to the left of the bold button is a slide switch with a small black rectangle with a M and an up-arrow in the left half and an A in the right half. You click / tap the slide switch to swap with state it’s in. You want the state where the highlight is on the left half and there is a preview pane to the right of the input box. (Assuming a full size screen, not a phone). I personally hate the WYSIWYG mode editor because it hides about half of what formatting you’re doing, but doesn’t provide a way to do all the formatting you might need. Call it “Dumbed down mode with major mysterious side effects and undocumented limitations.” One undocumented side effect is it drives double-spacing even if that’s not what you want.