# Outlook format question - Font colour **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 31, 2024, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-format-question-font-colour/1005064 "2024-07-31T17:51:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-format-question-font-colour/1005064/1 "2024-07-31T17:51:47Z")
I have a form in Word. There are fields to be filled in, and then there is a box for Problem Statement (which I’ll call PS). The PS is formatted as Bold and Dark Blue. (I didn’t choose it. That’s just the way it is and I’m fine with it.) Sometimes I’ll change a word to Red for emphasis. After completing the form, I attach it to an Outlook email. I also copy the PS from the Word document and paste it into the email. Until recently, this worked fine. The last week or so though, the copied text is pasted into the email as Bold (as expected/desired), but **black**. Any red words from the document are also black in Outlook. I did not (knowingly) change any settings. How do I make Outlook retain the original formatting from the Word document? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-format-question-font-colour/1005064/2 "2024-08-01T11:00:51Z")
Perhaps a workaround: can you save the completed form as a PDF and email that? That should retain font colors. You can then open the PDF in Word / Outlook to edit it again. Another possibility is to save the completed form as a Google Doc. But these are just workarounds. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-format-question-font-colour/1005064/3 "2024-08-01T13:04:49Z")
I’m guessing the ‘keep source formatting’ box that got changed. _In Outlook follow **File** / **Options** / **Mail** and in the first section under the **Compose messages** heading there is the **Editor Options…** button. In the next window that opens, select the **Advanced** tab on the left-hand side. Scroll down ad under the **Cut, copy, and paste** heading._ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-format-question-font-colour/1005064/4 "2024-08-01T13:16:24Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Perhaps a workaround: can you save the completed form as a PDF and email that? That’s what I do. I send the form as a Word attachment, and I copy the instructions in to the body of the email. The document is required. The text in the body of the email is to see what’s in the document. > [@Spiderman](#): > > I’m guessing the ‘keep source formatting’ box that got changed. That worked! Thank you, ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-format-question-font-colour/1005064/5 "2024-08-02T15:12:26Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > > [@Spiderman](#): > > > > I’m guessing the ‘keep source formatting’ box that got changed. > > That worked! Thank you, Damn. Better than my suggestion was going to be - right click and chose “keep source formatting”