Clear Formatting Shortcut
To strip formatting back to plain text: in Google Docs press Ctrl+\ (Windows) or ⌘\ (Mac); in Word press Ctrl+Space for character formatting, or Ctrl+Shift+N for paragraph style; in Excel use Alt, H, E, F (Windows). Here are the clear-formatting shortcuts side by side.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Docs | ⌘\ | Ctrl+\ | |
| Word (character) | ⌃Space | Ctrl+Space | |
| Word (paragraph) | ⌘⇧N | Ctrl+Shift+N | |
| Excel (ribbon) | — | Alt, H, E, F |
Clear formatting on Mac vs Windows
The cleanest one is Google Docs: Ctrl+\ on Windows, ⌘\ on a Mac wipes all formatting from the selection. In Word there are two: Ctrl+Space clears character formatting (bold, colour, font) back to the style default, and Ctrl+Shift+N resets the paragraph to Normal style.
Excel and paste-as-plain-text
In Excel, clear formatting lives on the ribbon: Alt, H, E, F on Windows. Everywhere, a reliable fallback is to paste as plain text with Ctrl+Shift+V / ⌘⇧V, which drops formatting on the way in.
FAQ
What is the clear formatting shortcut in Google Docs?
Ctrl+\ on Windows and ⌘\ (Command+Backslash) on a Mac removes all formatting from the selected text.
How do I clear formatting in Word?
Press Ctrl+Space to clear character formatting, or Ctrl+Shift+N to reset the paragraph to Normal style. On Mac use ⌃Space and ⌘⇧N.
How do I remove formatting when pasting?
Use paste without formatting: Ctrl+Shift+V on Windows or ⌘⇧V on a Mac pastes as plain text.