Formatting Issues

How to Remove Gray Shading and Square Brackets from Word Table Text

WPS Content Manager Sep 25, 2026 872 views

Question details

The user needs to remove persistent gray shading and square brackets around text within a Word document table.

How to Remove Gray Shading and Square Brackets from Word Table Text

Product: Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Editing a document containing tables with text that looks highlighted but cannot be removed using standard text formatting tools.
Observed behavior: Text inside table cells displays gray shading and square brackets, which are typical indicators of legacy form fields or content controls rather than standard text highlights.

Before you start

Before modifying the document, verify whether the file is restricted for filling in forms. You may need to stop document protection in the Review tab before you can edit or delete these fields.

Solution 1Recommended

Extract Text and Delete the Legacy Form Field

This method helps you keep the original text while completely removing the form field that is causing the gray shading and brackets.

Gray shading combined with brackets usually indicates a legacy form field. Deleting it outright will remove the text, so you must extract the text first.

Open Field Properties

Right-click on the shaded area or the square brackets within the table cell and select 'Properties' from the context menu.

Copy Default Text

In the dialog box that appears, locate the 'Default text' field and copy its contents. Close the dialog.

Paste and Delete

Paste the copied text directly into the cell outside the bracketed area. Then, select the entire gray shaded form field (the brackets) and press Delete on your keyboard.

Extract Text and Delete the Legacy Form Field

Document Protection Check: If you cannot right-click or edit the field, the document is likely protected. Go to the Review tab, click 'Restrict Editing', and select 'Stop Protection' at the bottom of the pane.

Solution 2

Disable Field Shading in Word Options

Use this solution if you want to keep the form fields functional but wish to hide the gray background shading for a cleaner viewing experience.

Seamless Word Document Editing

Easily Manage and Format Document Fields with WPS Writer

WPS Writer provides an intuitive interface and clear formatting tools to help you manage, extract, or remove form fields and unwanted shading without hassle.

1. Open your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing the stubborn table formatting.
2. Identify the Field: Click on the unwanted form field with gray shading. If required, navigate to the 'Developer' tab to view field properties.
3. Remove and Replace: Copy the text from inside the field, delete the field object, and paste the text back as unformatted text.

Advanced Developer tools to easily manage form fields and content controls.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word document formats (.docx, .doc).Clear, intuitive interface for fast and frustration-free document formatting.Lightweight application that runs smoothly on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't the normal text highlight tool remove this gray background?

The normal highlight tool applies colors directly to text characters. Gray shading with brackets indicates a dynamic object like a legacy form field or content control, which is managed at the object level and cannot be cleared using standard text formatting.

Will removing the form field delete my text?

Yes, if you delete the field directly, the text inside it will be lost. To preserve your data, you must copy the text out of the field (or from its Properties) and paste it outside the field boundaries before hitting the delete key.

How do I hide the square brackets around text without deleting them?

Square brackets can denote bookmarks. To hide them, go to File > Options > Advanced. Scroll down to the 'Show document content' section and uncheck the 'Show bookmarks' box.

Document & File Issues