What's the trick to pasting formatted text into a single Google Sheets column?

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1

I’m stuck trying to paste rich text into just one column in Google Sheets. I know how to split text into different columns, but that’s not what I need.

When I paste, the text spreads across multiple columns. I want it all in one column, while keeping the formatting. I’ve tried CTRL+SHIFT+V, but no dice. I know I’ve done this before, but I can’t recall how.

Here’s what happens when I paste:

Column A Column B Column C
Text More text Even more

What I want:

Column A

Text
More text
Even more

Any ideas on how to fix this? It’s really frustrating!

2

Have you tried using the ‘Paste special’ feature? It’s a bit hidden, but quite useful. Right-click in the cell where you want to paste, then select ‘Paste special’ > ‘Paste values only’. This should keep everything in one column without spreading across multiple ones.

If that doesn’t work, here’s another trick: paste your text into the formula bar instead of directly into the cell. Just select the cell you want, click in the formula bar above the sheet, paste there, and hit Enter.

These methods have saved me countless times when dealing with formatted text in Sheets. They’re not perfect, but they usually do the job. Let me know if you need any clarification on these steps.

3

I’ve been there, and it’s super frustrating! Here’s what worked for me: use the ‘Paste special’ option. Right-click in the cell where you want to paste, then choose ‘Paste special’ > ‘Paste values only’. This keeps everything in one column.

If that doesn’t do the trick, try this workaround: paste your text into the formula bar instead of directly into the cell. Just click the cell, then click in the formula bar above the sheet and paste there. Press Enter, and voila!

Last resort: if you’re dealing with a lot of data, consider using Google Docs first. Paste there, then copy from Docs to Sheets. It’s a bit roundabout, but it often preserves formatting better.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you need more tips.

4

hey, u could try this trick: paste into notepad first to strip formatting, then copy from there and paste into sheets. it usually works for me when i need everything in one column. also, have u tried double-clicking the cell before pasting? sometimes that helps too