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Problem with Paste Options in Word for Mac 2021 Desktop

Anonymous
2024-09-26T20:13:29+00:00

I recently bought Word for Mac 2021 desktop version when I got a new Macbook Pro. I copy a lot of articles off the internet, but when I paste them into a new Word document,it changes the font size and boldness of the Heading/Title and it doesn't leave any space between paragraphs like my earlier version 2019 Word for Mac did. The Mac version apparently doesn't have the "Paste Options" that the Windows version has, but pasting an article into my earlier version for Mac would always keep the large font size and bold font as in the original document and put spacing between paragraphs as in the original. It's a nuisance to have to re-format those features on every document. The older version was better! Any suggestions as to how to change styles or whatever might work so that I can keep the same formatting as the original document that I am going to paste without having to do it all manually every time?

I suppose I could just buy Office for Mac 2019 and hope it works on my new Mac as it does on my older one! I have been waiting for Office for Mac 2024 desktop version but I couldn't wait until it comes out before putting some version of Word on my new Mac. But I don't know if that one would resolve this problem or would hav ethe same problem as the 2021 version. The newer versions of softwares aren't always better!

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | MacOS

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  1. Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 434.8K Reputation points
    2024-09-26T21:16:54+00:00

    Mac Word doesn't have the preference to specify the default paste option like the Windows version has but the same options are available. What you are noticing is that Microsoft did change the default in Mac Word, ostensibly due to popular demand, but you have several alternatives:

    • Click the ⌵ on the edge of the Paste tool on the Home tab & select Keep Source Formatting, or
    • Paste as usual then click the Paste Options button which appears at the lower right corner of the pasted content then select Keep Source Formatting, or
    • Assign a keyboard shortcut to the PasteSourceFormatting command

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  1. Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 434.8K Reputation points
    2024-09-27T23:43:21+00:00

    Paste Options availability varies depending on what was copied, from where it was copied, & how it was copied... all of which are determined by the source & the application in which the copying is done.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-09-28T01:46:59+00:00

    Thank you for your further reply. Your response was very interesting because with my 2019 version of Word for Mac, every article without exception that I copied to store in a folder was automatically saved with the original formatting. I never had to choose any settings. The default from the beginning was the original source formatting. So how would you explain that now only some of the articles can keep their original formatting? Thank you.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-09-27T20:42:34+00:00

    Bob J.,

    yesterday after receiving your reply to my question, I was able to try your first suggestion and that worked. However, today when I went to do the same thing, when I click on Paste in the upper left of my screen,, the only option it gives me is "Keep text only." I then tried looking in the lower right corner for the paste Options button, but there was none. I guess I'll have to try to figure out how to do the short cur command you suggested. But I don't understand why the "Keep Source Formatting" option showed up last night, but not today. Any other suggestions? Thank you!

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