How To Copy and Paste in Google Docs On a Mac Computer

Google Docs is a powerful online word processing tool that allows you to create, edit, and collaborate on documents. Copying and pasting text and images in Google Docs is a fundamental skill that can help you work more efficiently. In this article, we will guide you through the process of “How To Copy and Paste in Google Docs.”

Also: How to Free Up Space in Google Drive

Table of Contents

Method 1: Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Google Docs provides several keyboard shortcuts that make copying and pasting quick and easy. Here are the steps:

Copy: To copy selected text or images, press ⌘ + C.

Paste: To paste the copied content, press ⌘ + V.

Using keyboard shortcuts is a fast and efficient way to copy and paste in Google Docs. However, please note that these shortcuts are specific to Mac computers.

Method 2: Using the Right-Click Menu

Alternatively, you can use the right-click menu to copy and paste in Google Docs. However, most web browsers don’t allow web apps like Google Docs to access your computer’s clipboard through menus for security reasons.

Please note that these instructions are specifically for Mac computers. If you’re using a different operating system, the keyboard shortcuts may vary.

Advanced Copy and Paste Options

In addition to basic copying and pasting, Google Docs offers more advanced copy and paste options. For example, you can copy charts, tables, and text formatting. To learn more about these advanced options, you can refer to the official Google Docs Editors Help page.

Select the specific text or content you want to copy

To begin, open the document you want to copy text from in Google Docs. You have two ways to choose the text you want:

To pick a single word, click on it three times, and it will turn blue. Or, you can double-click it and press the “Command” and “A” keys together.
If you want to select more than one word, sentence, or paragraph, hold down the Command key and then click and drag over the text you want to choose.

Go to ‘Edit’ on the top menu and select ‘Copy’

Here’s how to copy and paste:

Choose the text you want to copy.
Look at the top menu bar and click “Edit.”
A menu will pop up – choose “Copy.” Your text is now copied!

Now, go to the document where you want to put the text. It can be a new Google Docs document or one you already have. Pick the spot where you want to paste the text (just like how you chose it before). Then, go back up to the “Edit” menu and pick “Paste.” Your copied text will show up in its new place!

Click on the destination where you want the copied text to go and go to ‘Edit’ and select ‘Paste’.

To put the text in the document, first, go to where you want it to be. Then, choose the spot in the document where you want the text to go.

Now, there are a few ways to paste your copied text. You can use the “Edit” option from the menu at the top. When you pick “Edit,” a list will pop up, and from there, choose “Paste.” That’s it! Your copied text should now be in its new place.

Choose whether you’d like your content pasted as plain text, HTML, or rich text formatting.

After you click “Paste” from the menu, you’ll see three ways to put the text you copied. These choices are Plain Text, HTML, and Rich Text Formatting.

Plain Text makes the text simple, without any special styles.
HTML keeps web links and the way the text looks in the original document.
Rich Text Formatting copies everything, like fonts and sizes, just as it is in the copied text.

Save your document.

Before you want to use your document on other Mac computers, it’s important to save it properly to keep the copied text as it is. Here’s what to do:

Go to the “File” menu in Google Docs.
Choose “Save As.”
A window will appear, asking you to pick a file format. Make sure to select “Word 97 – 2003 Document” and any other formats that might be useful.
Click “Save.”

Now, you can open and edit the document on any Mac computer that has an updated Google Docs.

What are some other useful Google Docs shortcuts?

Here are some other useful Google Docs shortcuts:

Copy: Press Ctrl + C (Windows) or ⌘ + C (Mac) to copy selected text or images.

Cut: Press Ctrl + X (Windows) or ⌘ + X (Mac) to cut selected text or images.

Paste: Press Ctrl + V (Windows) or ⌘ + V (Mac) to paste copied content.

Undo: Press Ctrl + Z (Windows) or ⌘ + Z (Mac) to undo the last action.

Redo: Press Ctrl + Y (Windows) or ⌘ + Shift + Z (Mac) to redo the last undone action.

Insert or edit link: Press Ctrl + K (Windows) or ⌘ + K (Mac) to insert or edit a hyperlink.

Open link: Press Alt + Enter to open a hyperlink.

Save: Every change is automatically saved in Google Drive, but you can manually save by pressing Ctrl + S (Windows) or ⌘ + S (Mac).

Print: Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or ⌘ + P (Mac) to print the document.

Open: Press Ctrl + O (Windows) or ⌘ + O (Mac) to open an existing document.

Find: Press Ctrl + F (Windows) or ⌘ + F (Mac) to find specific text within the document.

For a comprehensive list of keyboard shortcuts in Google Docs, you can refer to the official Google Docs Editors Help page

Conclusion

Copying and pasting in Google Docs on a Mac computer is easy and can save you time and energy. Whether you like using shortcuts on the keyboard or the menu when you right-click, learning how to do this will make your work in Google Docs quicker and easier.