How to Keep Strikethrough When Pasting Text in Word for Mac
Question details
Users lose strikethrough formatting when pasting text from one Word document to another with a different style on Mac.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Copying and pasting text with strikethrough formatting between documents.
- Observed behavior
- The strikethrough formatting is removed upon pasting the text into the destination document.
Ensure that the strikethrough is an actual font format applied to the text and not a deletion markup from the Track Changes feature, as they behave differently.
Use the Paste Tool with Keep Source Formatting
The most direct way to retain all font-formatting attributes, including strikethrough, is to specify how the text is pasted using the ribbon menu.
Strikethrough is a standard font-formatting attribute. To prevent it from adapting to the destination document's style, you must force Word to retain the source formatting.
Highlight the text containing the strikethrough in your source document and press Command + C to copy it.
In your destination document, navigate to the Home tab and click the small downward arrow on the right side of the Paste tool.
Click on 'Keep Source Formatting' from the drop-down menu to paste the text with its original strikethrough attribute intact.
Use the Paste Options Button After Pasting
If you have already pasted the text using standard keyboard shortcuts, you can still recover the lost formatting using the on-canvas paste options.
Keep Formatting Seamlessly with WPS Writer
WPS Writer offers seamless text formatting retention when copying and pasting between documents. As a highly compatible Word alternative, it supports Mac and handles complex styling effortlessly.
- 1. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office on your Mac and open the Writer application.
- 2. Copy your text: Select and copy the text with the strikethrough formatting from your source document.
- 3. Paste with Source Formatting: Right-click in the destination document and select 'Keep Source Formatting' from the paste context menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my copied text look different when I paste it into a new Word document?
By default, Word may adapt pasted text to match the destination document's style. To prevent this and keep original styles like strikethrough, use the 'Keep Source Formatting' paste option.
Is strikethrough considered a font style or a track changes mark?
Strikethrough can be both. It is a standard font characteristic that can be toggled in the font menu. However, if Track Changes is turned on, deleted text will also temporarily appear with a strikethrough markup.
How do I set 'Keep Source Formatting' as the default paste option on Mac?
Go to Word > Preferences > Edit. Look for the 'Paste Options' section, and change the default setting for pasting between documents or apps to 'Keep Source Formatting'.
