Here's a few options:
1) paste everything into notepad first - this sure as hell strips out the formatting!
2) Use the Paste Options menu once you have pasted the selection (see the little paste icon beside the text you've just pasted?), then select Keep Text Only.
3) Record a Macro to do 2) -
This is how you can set up Word XP to insert unformatted text with a keystroke.
- In Word, select some text and press Ctrl-C to copy it.
- Click Tools, Macro, Record New Macro.
- In the Macros dialog box's name field, enter PlainPaste.
- Click the Keyboard button to get the Customize Keyboard dialog box.
- In the 'Save changes in' drop-down menu, select normal.dot
- Put the cursor in the 'Press new shortcut key' field, and press Ctrl-Z (for example) as the shortcut key stroke.
- Click the Assign button, then Close.
- Now Paste the text – you should see the Paste Options icon in the bottom RH corner of the pasted text.
- Click the Down arrow on the Paste Options icon and select Keep Text Only
- Click the Stop Recording button (the solid square) on the Macro toolbar.
Henceforth, Ctrl-Z will act as a keyboard command to paste unformatted text.
The Macro is similar in Excel, but not identical (it’s all VBA - go figure…)