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: Copying Paragraph Formatting with the Mouse.

Copying Paragraph Formatting with the Mouse

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated August 12, 2017)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


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Often it is beneficial to copy paragraph formatting from one place in your document to another. Word provides a quick way you can do this by using the mouse:

  1. Select the paragraph whose formatting you want to copy.
  2. Click on the Format Painter tool on the toolbar.
  3. Using the mouse, select the paragraph you want formatted.

You can also copy the same format repeatedly by double clicking the Format Painter tool in step 2. You will then be able to apply the same formatting until you turn off format painting by clicking on the tool one more time or by pressing Esc.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1119) 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: Copying Paragraph Formatting with the Mouse.

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. ...

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Comments

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What is seven more than 2?

2020-06-17 20:19:49

Larry Schwartz

When user comments are appended to the end of Alan's answer, please add a comment at the end of his answer advising the reader to scroll WAY down. I can see notes that a user responded, but did not know where they were.


2018-05-01 11:26:24

K. Gardner

This does not work for paragraph spacing. I wish it did, and am looking for that feature.


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