Office Compatibility Issues

Fix Word Online Removing Underscores Inside Angle Brackets

Maira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users experience an issue in Word Online where text enclosed in angle brackets containing multiple underscores (such as <a_b_c>) is unexpectedly deleted or hidden, especially after being pasted from a plain text editor like Notepad.

Product: Word Online
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Copying plain text that includes bracketed code or variables from Notepad and pasting it into a Word Online document.
Observed behavior: Word Online completely removes or hides the bracketed text, likely interpreting it as an unrecognized HTML tag due to web-rendering behaviors.

Before you start

Ensure you have a backup of your original text saved securely in Notepad before attempting to re-paste or sync the document across different applications.

Solution 1Recommended

Edit Document in Desktop Word and Sync via OneDrive

Bypass the web-based rendering issue by editing the document directly in the desktop version of Microsoft Word, which handles bracketed text properly.

The web version of Word sometimes misinterprets angle brackets as HTML formatting. Using the desktop application prevents this parsing error.

Open document in desktop app

While viewing your document in Word Online, click on the 'Editing' dropdown menu or look for the 'Open in Desktop App' button located on the top ribbon.

Paste the text

Once the document opens in your desktop Word application, paste your text from Notepad. The bracketed underscores will now display correctly.

Save and sync

Save the document. Your changes will automatically synchronize back to OneDrive, and the text will remain intact even if viewed again online.

Synchronization Complete: Once synced, the text usually remains visible in Word Online as long as you do not attempt to edit that specific block of text in the web browser.

Solution 2

Paste Directly Without Routing Through Notepad

Since the bug is specifically triggered when the text is routed through Notepad, bypassing Notepad may prevent the parsing issue.

Solution 3

Report the Bug to the Microsoft Feedback Portal

Since this is a known rendering bug in Word Online, reporting it helps developers prioritize a permanent fix.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office to Safely Edit Complex Text Formats

Avoid frustrating web-based formatting bugs by switching to WPS Office. It provides a robust, free desktop application that perfectly preserves your code snippets, bracketed text, and plain text pastes without unexpected deletions.

1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite on your computer.
2. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word document.
3. Paste without worry: Paste your text from Notepad directly into WPS Writer to keep all formatting and characters intact.

Handles complex text parsing seamlessly without deleting bracketed underscores.Highly compatible with Microsoft Word formats (.docx, .doc).Lightweight desktop application that works entirely offline.Familiar user interface with zero learning curve.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word Online delete text inside angle brackets?

Word Online's web rendering engine sometimes misinterprets text enclosed in angle brackets as HTML or XML tags. If it doesn't recognize the tag (such as <a_b_c>), it may attempt to hide or remove it during the pasting process.

Is my deleted text permanently lost in Word Online?

If you just pasted the text, you can immediately press Ctrl+Z to undo the action. However, if the document auto-saved after the text was removed, you will need to copy and paste the original text again using a desktop word processor.

Does this parsing issue affect the desktop version of Microsoft Word?

No, this behavior is specific to Word Online. The desktop version of Microsoft Word handles angle brackets and underscores correctly, making it a reliable workaround for editing complex text.

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