Cut, Copy, Paste and Copy Text Formatting

You can move or copy text in a Word document by cutting or copying a selection and then pasting the text in a new location.

You can cut, copy, and paste any item—like pictures, shapes, or tables—not just text.

Copy and Paste

Copying text lets you duplicate the selected text so it can be used somewhere else.

1. Select the text you want to copy.
2. Click the Copy button on the Home tab.

   A copy of the selected text is placed in the Clipboard.

   Press Ctrl + C to copy.

3. Click where you want to paste the text.

   You can copy, cut, and paste text or other items within a document, between documents, or between programs.

4. Click the Paste button.

   Press Ctrl + V to paste.

   

The text you copied is duplicated in the new location.

Cut and Paste

When you cut text, it is removed from its original location and placed in the Clipboard.

1. Select the text you want to cut.
2. Click the Cut button on the Home tab.

   Press Ctrl + X to cut.

3. Click where you want to paste the text.
4. Click the Paste button.
   

Select the text you want to move, then click and drag the selected text to where you want to place it. (Pressing Ctrl while moving will copy it.)

Copy Text Formatting

1. Select the formatted text you want to copy.

To copy paragraph formatting (such as line or paragraph spacing) as well as text formatting, select the entire paragraph you want to copy.

2. Click the Format Painter button on the Home tab.

The cursor changes to a paintbrush, indicating that the format painter is ready.

3. Select the text you want to apply the copied formatting to.

To apply copied formatting to multiple areas, keep the format painter turned on by double-clicking the Format Painter button, and then select each area you want to apply the formatting to. Click the Format Painter button again or press Esc to turn the Format Painter off when you’re done.