The latest update to Microsoft Word has brought a major change to the way documents are managed. The new default paste option is now "Merge Formatting", which makes it much easier to paste and format text. But why was this change necessary and how will it affect users?

Benefits of the new default paste option

In the past, when text was pasted into a document, the original size, colour and font were preserved, often ruining the document's coherent appearance. This was particularly frustrating when we had to merge text from different sources.

From now on, pasted text will automatically adapt to the formatting of the document, which significantly improves readability and aesthetics. The "Merge formatting" option keeps bold, italics and underlines, while the rest of the text is formatted to match the current document.

Why was the change necessary?

Microsoft has introduced this update based on user feedback. Many users complained that the formatting of pasted text often ruined the consistent appearance of documents, requiring additional editing work. The introduction of a new default pasting option is a significant step towards improving the user experience.

Update availability and settings

Previously, the default paste mode was "Keep Source Formatting", which could be accessed by pressing Ctrl + V. However, with the new update, this has changed and now "Merge Formatting" is the default.

Insertion options

Users will still have three insertion options: 'Keep source formatting', 'Merge formatting' and 'Keep text only'.

  • Maintaining source formatting: Keeps the original appearance of the text.
  • Merging of formatting: Retains bold, italics and underline, but the rest of the formatting is adapted to the document.
  • Keep text only: All original formatting is rejected.

This update is available in Microsoft Word version 2405 (Build 17624.20000) or later releases. Users who wish to restore the old default setting can do so by going to File > Preferences > Advanced > Cut, Copy and Paste. It is important to note that this customization option is not available in the web and Mac versions.