How to paste with no formatting?

[david.karr]

On Windows, I was often frustrated when I had to paste text copied from another window into email or a doc, as I often wanted to paste the text with no formatting, or using the formatting in the destination, not the source.

My workaround on Windows was to paste the text into an Emacs (Cygwin) window and then cut it again from there, then paste where I want it.

Ironically, I now see that Emacs on Linux is "smarter", so that this workaround doesn't even work. The formatting is preserved even when pasting and cutting through Emacs.

Is there a simple way to paste without the source formatting?

[utnubuuser]

I usually use gedit as a workaround. cut, paste to gedit, cut, paste to destination.

[david.karr]

Well, I figured out how to paste unformatted in Writer, at least. The dropdown menu on the "Paste" icon has a "Unformatted text" option. Now if I can only get that working with a convenient keyboard shortcut.