How do I Cut, Copy, and Paste with a Mac?

Text can be copied and pasted between almost any webpage and almost any document or application.  For example, you could copy text from one webpage to another webpage, from a webpage to a Microsoft Word document, from a PDF file to a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation, etc.

Some examples that are relevant to University of Phoenix students:

• You can type a discussion post in Microsoft Word, and then copy and paste it to the classroom
• You can create a citation in the Reference and Citation Generator, then copy and paste it to the reference page of your paper in Microsoft Word
• You can copy text from an article in the Library, and paste it to your paper or to the Discussion page

There are several different methods of copying and pasting.  These methods will work the same way for almost any application.

On a Mac computer, the Command key is generally located adjacent to the spacebar and is often labeled with a ⌘ symbol that resembles a four leaf clover. The following key combinations require that you first press and hold the Command key while proceeding to press the letter assigned to the Copy, Cut or Paste function.

Note: the Command key is generally located adjacent to the spacebar and is often labeled with a ⌘ symbol that resembles a four leaf clover
 

1. Click and hold the left mouse button, drag the mouse over the text you wish to select, then release the button.  This will highlight the selected text
2. Right-click (if you do not have a right-click button on your mouse, hold down the CTRL or Control key and click) on the highlighted text
3. Click Copy.
4. Go to the document or webpage where you wish to paste the text
5. Right-click (if you do not have a right-click button on your mouse, hold down the CTRL or Control key and click) in the area where you wish to place the text
6. Click Paste

1. Click and hold the left mouse button, drag the mouse over the text you wish to select, then release the button.  This will highlight the selected text
2. On your keyboard, press the Command key and the letter C at the same time, then release them
3. Go to the document or webpage where you wish to paste the text
4. Click in the area where you wish to place the text
5. On your keyboard, press the Command key and the letter V at the same time, then release them (Note: Press them only one time, do not hold the keys down, as this will cause the text to be pasted multiple times)

• Command + X to Cut
• Command + C to Copy
• Command + V to Paste

1. Click and hold the left mouse button, drag the mouse over the text you wish to select, then release the button.  This will highlight the selected text
2. Click the Edit menu (which is usually located in the upper left of the screen in most applications)
3. Click Copy
4. Go to the document or webpage where you wish to paste the text
5. Click in the area where you wish to place the text
6. Click the Edit menu
7. Click Paste

 
Retaining APA formatting when copying and pasting to Microsoft Word.

When copying, the formatting of the source text will be retained when pasting.  This can be a problem when working with Microsoft Word, because it may not match the APA formatting of your document.  To avoid this, you will need to use the Paste options in Word.  Please click the link below for more information:

Control the formatting when you paste text.

For additional information, please see the Related Articles section to the right.