10 Minute Guide to Word for Windows 95

Previous chapterNext chapterContents


- 9 -
Moving and Copying Text

In this lesson, you'll learn how to move and copy text in your document.

Selecting Text

In Lesson 3, you learned how to select a block of text in order to delete it. You use the same procedures to select text you want to move or copy. Remember, selected text appears on the screen in reverse video.

Copying Text

When you copy text, you place a duplicate of the selected text in a new location. After you copy, the text exists in both the original and new locations. There are several methods available for copying text.


Timesaver Tip: Save Your Fingers Copying text can save you from having to type. For example, copy a paragraph to a new location when you need to modify it only slightly.

Using the Clipboard to Copy

The Clipboard is a temporary storage location offered in Windows programs. You can copy text from one location in your document to the Clipboard and then paste it from the Clipboard to the new location in your document.

1. Select the text you want to copy. The selected text appears highlighted, as shown in Figure 9.1.

Figure 9.1
Highlighted text to be copied.

2. Select Edit Copy. You can also click on the Copy button on the Toolbar, or press Ctrl+C.

3. Move the insertion point to the new location for the text.

4. Select Edit Paste. You can also select the Paste button on the toolbar or press Ctrl+V. The text appears at the new location, as shown in Figure 9.2.


Timesaver Tip: Again and Again You can paste the same text from the Clipboard more than once. The text remains on the Clipboard, throughout your work session, until you replace it with new text.

Figure 9.2
The copied text in the new location.

Using the Mouse to Copy

A shortcut for copying is available if you're using the mouse:

1. Select the text to copy.

2. Using the mouse, point at the location where you want the text copied. If necessary, you can first scroll the document to bring the location into view.

3. Press and hold Ctrl+Shift and click the right mouse button. Word copies the selected text to the location you pointed to.

Copying Text That You Just Typed

You can quickly insert a copy of text that you just typed at a different document location:

1. At one document location, type the text that you want to copy.

2. Move the insertion point to the second location for the text.

3. Select Edit Repeat Typing, or press F4.

Moving Text

You can move text from one document location to another. When you move text, Word deletes it from the original location and inserts it at the new location.

Moving Text Using the Clipboard

You can move text with the Clipboard. These are the steps to follow:

1. Select the text to move.

2. Select Edit Cut, click the Cut button on the Toolbar, or press Ctrl+X. Word deletes the selected text from the document and places it on the Clipboard.

3. Move the insertion point to the new location.

4. Select Edit Paste, click the Paste button on the toolbar, or press Ctrl+V. Word inserts the text into the document.

Moving Text with the Mouse

You can drag selected text to a new location using the mouse. This technique is particularly convenient for small blocks of text.

1. Select the text to be moved. (Figure 9.3 gives an example.)

Figure 9.3
To move text, first highlight it.

2. Point at the selected text with the mouse; press and hold the left mouse button.

3. Drag to the new location. As you drag, a dotted vertical line indicates where Word will insert the text.


Timesaver Tip: Copy with the Mouse To copy the text instead of moving it, press and hold Ctrl while dragging.
4. Position the dotted line at the desired insertion point, and release the mouse button. Word moves (or copies, if you were holding Ctrl) the text. (Figure 9.4 shows the new position of the selected text in Figure 9.3.)

Figure 9.4
Cut the text and paste it in the new location or drag it to the new location with the mouse.


In this lesson, you learned how to move and copy text. In the next lesson, you'll learn how to format paragraphs.


Previous chapterNext chapterContents


Macmillan Computer Publishing USA

© Copyright, Macmillan Computer Publishing. All rights reserved.