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: Moving Text without Affecting the Clipboard.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 25, 2019)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Here is a trick that was first introduced in Word 5 for DOS and is still valid in the program. Suppose you want to move something (a word, sentence, graphic, table, etc.) from one location in a document to another. You probably know the standard way of doing the move using cut and paste, but there is another way. You can do the move very quickly via the following:
The beauty of this technique is that the Clipboard is not involved. This means that if you had something on the Clipboard before the move, it is still there for later use; it hasn't been disturbed.
You should note that if, instead of moving, you want to just copy, all you need to do is hold down both the Shift and Ctrl keys in step 3.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (3896) 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: Moving Text without Affecting the Clipboard.
Discover the Power of Microsoft Office This beginner-friendly guide reveals the expert tips and strategies you need to skyrocket your productivity and use Office 365 like a pro. Mastering software like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is essential to be more efficient and advance your career. Simple lessons guide you through every step, providing the knowledge you need to get started. Check out Microsoft Office 365 For Beginners today!
Section marks are used regularly in the writings of some industries, such as in legal documents. If you need a way to ...
Discover MoreIf you need to refer to the same information over and over in a document, you may be interested in using custom document ...
Discover MoreTake a look in a dictionary at the way that words are phonetically spelled. Those special characters used to type those ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2018-01-30 18:10:47
Phil Rabichow
Hi Allen:
Just a correction. After highlighting the text:
1. Ctrl + drag will copy the text
2. Shift + drag will move the text
3. Ctrl+Shift+drag will create an OLE link to the text & bookmark the text.
Oh. I just realized that you said right click. The above works with left click. If you right click, you get a context menu giving you the choice of "move here", "copy here" & "link here"
Phil
2018-01-30 18:08:10
Phil Rabichow
Hi Allen:
Just a correction. After highlighting the text:
1. Ctrl + drag will copy the text
2. Shift + drag will move the text
3. Ctrl+Shift+drag will create an OLE link to the text & bookmark the text.
Phil
Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
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:
Comments