Reuse and Reorder Text in Emails and Documents

Don’t keep retyping the same things again and again. A free feature in Microsoft Windows avoids repetitive typing so you get work done faster.

Microsoft Windows has a Clipboard history feature you can use to temporarily save multiple selections of words and phrases for fast relocation or reuse.

Let’s say you’ve written a paragraph and want to reorder parts of it like this:

Using Windows Clipboard history, you could first select:

Kim and Lou Park

Cut the text using either Right-Click, Copy, or Ctrl key and X.

With their names still selected, you could overwrite the selection by typing: “them”.

Next, you could select and cut:

We’ve completed the hold harmless and indemnification provisions.

Now you have these two text snippets saved in the Clipboard history.

By pressing Windows Key and V, you can display the contents of the Clipboard history.

To paste a snippet from the Clipboard history:

  1. Put the cursor where you want to insert the text.

  2. Press Windows Key and V to bring up the Clipboard history

  3. Click on the text you want

  4. Press Enter

The Clipboard history feature is also useful for pasting the same names or phrases repeatedly into a document as you compose. Select and copy the text once. Use it in multiple places.

Features of Windows Clipboard History

  • Save up to 25 text snippets.

  • Restarting the computer clears the contents.

  • Pin an item using the three dots next to it to retain it after a restart.

  • Manually clear all items by clicking the three dots and choosing Clear All.

  • Works to copy text between any Windows in Microsoft Windows.