Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Using the Copy or Move Text Keys.

Using the Copy or Move Text Keys

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated July 5, 2014)

Many people use the Clipboard to copy text. This deletes what was previously in the Clipboard, replacing it with the selection you are copying. There may be times, however, when you don't want to disturb the contents of the Clipboard. Word allows you to bypass the Clipboard and copy text using the keyboard in this manner:

Highlight the text you want to copy.
Press Shift+F2. The message Copy to where? appears in the status bar.
Move the insertion point to where you want the copy.
Press Enter.

If you want to move text instead, all you need to do is use F2 instead of Shift+F2.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (18) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Using the Copy or Move Text Keys.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

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