How do I copy a font style in Word?

Copying a font style allows you to quickly apply formatting from one text selection to another in Word. This can save you time compared to manually setting the font, size, color, and other attributes each time. Here are the steps to copy and paste font formatting in Word for Windows and Mac.

Table of Contents

What You Need

Microsoft Word installed on your Windows PC or Mac

Two text selections formatted differently in your Word document

Select the Text with the Format to Copy

First, select the text that has the font format you want to copy. This can be a heading, paragraph, or just a few words. Make sure the text you want to copy has the font, size, color, bold/italic, underline, etc. that you want to replicate elsewhere.

Copy the Text Format

With the source text selected, copy just the font formatting using one of these methods:

Windows: Right-click the selected text and choose Copy Formatting from the context menu.
Mac: Hold the Option key and click the selected text, then choose Copy Formatting from the context menu.
Go to the Home tab and click the Format Painter icon in the Clipboard group. This keeps the Format Painter active so you can paste the format multiple times.

Select the Destination Text

Now, select the text where you want to apply the copied font format. This can be a single word, entire paragraph, or multiple blocks of text. The destination text can already have formatting applied, and the pasted style will override existing formatting.

Paste the Copied Format

With the destination text selected, paste the font style:

Windows/Mac: Right-click the selected text and choose Paste Formatting from the context menu.

If Format Painter is active, simply click or highlight the destination text.

The font formatting from the original text will be applied to the destination text. Repeat for any other text where you want to duplicate the style.

Method 1: Copy/Paste with Keyboard Shortcuts

You can also use these keyboard shortcuts to copy and paste font formatting in Word:

Select source text
Ctrl+Shift+C (Windows) or Command+Shift+C (Mac) to copy formatting
Select destination text

Ctrl+Shift+V (Windows) or Command+Shift+V (Mac) to paste formatting

Method 2: The Format Painter

The Format Painter button on the Home tab lets you quickly copy formats without menus. To use it:

Select the text with the formatting you want to copy

Click the Format Painter button on the Home tab (or double-click the button to keep it selected)
Select the text you want to apply the copied formatting to
The font styles copy over while retaining the original text

This method lets you easily paste the formatting to multiple selections by clicking the Format Painter repeatedly.

Tips for Copying Font Format in Word

Here are some useful tips when copying and pasting text formatting in Word:

You can copy formatting from one document and paste it into another opened document.

To copy formats without any text, select the source text and press Delete after copying the format.
The source and destination can be different text (e.g. headings vs. body text).
You can combine copied formatting with existing formatting by selectively pasting.

To apply formatting without overriding existing styles, right-click and choose Merge Formatting.
To copy formatting without any text, select the source text and press Delete after copying the format.

Copying Font Format vs Style

Copying font formatting is different than copying a predefined text style in Word:

Font formatting affects the text appearance by changing font, size, color, etc.
Styles include font formatting and paragraph formatting like alignment and spacing.
Styles are reusable and updateable across a document while copied formatting applies once.

To copy a style, right-click the text with the style and select Styles > Copy Style. Then right-click the destination and choose Styles > Paste Style.

Troubleshooting Copy/Paste Formatting

If you are having issues copying and pasting text formatting, check for the following:

Make sure you specifically copy or cut just the formatting itself, not the text.

The source selection must have formatting applied to copy anything.
Verify the paste option says “Formatting” when pasting.
Make sure the source and destination documents are open.

Formatting may not paste correctly between significantly different font types.
Reboot Word and try the copy/paste process again if needed.

With some minor troubleshooting, you should be able to copy font formats in Word easily using cut/paste or the Format Painter.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I copy formatting in Word on a Mac?

On a Mac, hold the Option key and click the text with the formatting you want to copy. Then right-click and select Copy Formatting from the context menu. To paste, hold Option and click the destination text, then choose Paste Formatting.

Can you copy and paste formats in Word?

Yes, you can copy and paste text formatting like font, size, color, bold, italics, etc. in Word for Windows and Mac. Select the source text, copy just the formatting, select the destination text, and paste the formatting.

How do you copy formatting to multiple words?

To quickly copy formatting to multiple words or selections in Word, use the Format Painter. Select the formatted text, click Format Painter, then select each destination text to apply the copied formatting.

How do I copy and paste styles in Word?

To copy and paste a text style in Word, right-click the text with the desired style and choose Styles > Copy Style. Then right-click the destination text and select Styles > Paste Style to apply the style.

What is the shortcut to copy formatting in Word?

The keyboard shortcuts to copy and paste formatting in Word are:

Ctrl+Shift+C (Windows) or Command+Shift+C (Mac) – Copy formatting

Ctrl+Shift+V (Windows) or Command+Shift+V (Mac) – Paste formatting

Conclusion

Copying and pasting text formatting is a useful Word skill that can speed up your formatting time. By mastering the copy/paste formatting options via the right-click menu or Format Painter, you can quickly achieve formatting consistency across different documents.

Remember to copy just the formatting itself, not the text content. And be mindful of the difference between font formatting vs. styles. With a bit of practice, you’ll be copying and pasting text formats in Word like a pro.

Method	How To Copy Format	How To Paste Format
Right-click menu	Right-click selection, Choose Copy Formatting	Right-click selection, Choose Paste Formatting
Keyboard shortcuts	Ctrl+Shift+C (Win) Command+Shift+C (Mac)	Ctrl+Shift+V (Win) Command+Shift+V (Mac)
Format Painter	Select text, Click Format Painter	Click destination text

Let me know if you have any other questions! I’m happy to help explain copy/paste formatting techniques in Word.