WD2000: Paragraphs Are Not Merged When Text and Paragraph Marks Are Selected and Deleted (211766)

SYMPTOMS

When you select text and the paragraph mark of a paragraph, and then press DELETE, the paragraph mark is not deleted, and the remaining text of the edited paragraph does not merge with the following paragraph as expected.

This behavior does not occur when you select and delete just the text, and the following paragraph has the same style or paragraph formatting.

This behavior does not occur you select and delete only the paragraph mark.

CAUSE

Microsoft Word preserves the formatting of text and paragraphs when the following conditions are true:

The selected text has a different paragraph style (or different paragraph formatting) applied than the following paragraph.

-and-
The Use smart cut and paste check box is selected.

When smart cut-and-paste functionality is selected, Word automatically adjusts spacing around deleted or inserted text. For example, Word can remove an extra space before a period or add a space between two words.

To select smart cut-and-paste functionality, follow these steps:
1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Edit tab.
2. Click to select the Use smart cut and paste check box.

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Delete the Text Before Deleting the Paragraph Mark

Select and delete just the unwanted text in the paragraph, and then select and delete the unwanted paragraph mark. When you delete the unwanted paragraph mark, the following paragraph acquires the style or paragraph formatting of the edited paragraph.

Method 2: Clear the "Use Smart Cut and Paste" Option

If you want the paragraphs to be merged automatically when the selection is deleted, click to clear the Use smart cut and paste check box. To do so, follow these steps:

On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Edit tab.
Click to clear the Use smart cut and paste check box.
Click OK.

When you delete the selection, the following paragraph acquires the style or paragraph formatting of the edited paragraph.