Formatting Issues

Fix Word Font Size Changing When Pasting Text into Tables

Nimra Malik Oct 12, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs a way to prevent the word processor from automatically changing the font size when pasting plain text into table cells.

How to Fix Word Font Size Changing When Pasting as Text Only in Tables

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Pasting unformatted text into a table within a document.
Observed behavior: Pasted text unexpectedly shrinks to a 10-point font instead of retaining the document's standard 11-point font size.

Before you start

Verify whether this font size change occurs only when pasting into tables or if it happens throughout the entire document, as table-specific styles often override standard document fonts.

Solution 1Recommended

Modify Table Style Font Settings to Match Normal Style

Adjusting the default font size of your table style ensures pasted text inherits the correct 11-point formatting instead of reverting to 10-point.

In Microsoft Word, table styles often carry their own underlying font formatting defaults. When you use 'Paste as Text Only', the text abandons its original formatting and inherits the formatting of the table cell, which is often defaulted to 10-point size.

Select the Table Design tab

Click anywhere inside your table to reveal the 'Table Design' tab on the ribbon.

Modify the Table Style

Right-click the active table style in the Table Styles gallery and choose 'Modify Table Style' from the context menu.

Adjust the Font Size

In the Modify Style dialog box, locate the formatting section and change the font size from 10 to 11 to match your normal document text.

Apply Changes as Default

Select the 'New documents based on this template' radio button if you want this fix to apply to future documents, then click 'OK'.

Format Saved: Future unformatted text pasted into this table style will now successfully retain the 11-point font size.

Solution 2

Check Default Font Settings via the Manage Styles Pane

Verify the underlying default document formatting to prevent paragraph styles from conflicting with pasted text.

Manage Table Formatting Easily in WPS Office

Keep Pasted Text Formatting Consistent with WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers a seamless way to manage document and table styles, ensuring your text retains the correct 11-point font size when pasting as unformatted text. With intuitive formatting menus, you can easily control how pasted text behaves in tables.

1. Open Document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your document in WPS Writer.
2. Access Styles Management: Navigate to the Home tab and click on the 'Styles and Formatting' icon to reveal the style panel on the right.
3. Modify Table Defaults: Locate your active table style, right-click, select 'Modify', and ensure the font size is set to 11 to match your standard text.
4. Paste Unformatted Text Easily: Right-click inside your table cell and select 'Keep Text Only' to paste without triggering formatting glitches.

Flawless compatibility with Microsoft Word documents (.docx and .doc).Intuitive style management panel to easily sync Normal and Table styles.Lightweight design for faster document processing and editing.Smart Paste Special options to strictly match destination formatting without hassle.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my font change to 10-point when I paste into a table?

This happens because Word tables often rely on an underlying Table Style (such as 'Table Grid') which may have a default font size of 10-point. When you paste as 'Text Only', the text abandons its original formatting and adopts the table cell's default 10-point size.

How do I make my table default font size match the rest of the document?

You can correct this by clicking inside your table, going to the Table Design tab, right-clicking the highlighted Table Style, and selecting Modify. Change the font size to 11-point (or your preferred size) and save the changes.

Does 'Keep Text Only' clear all formatting?

Yes, 'Keep Text Only' strips the original formatting (like bold, italics, and font size) of the copied text. The pasted text will automatically inherit the specific formatting rules of the destination paragraph or table cell.

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