When you cut text, you don’t need to worry about pasting it immediately. Your computer automatically saves the most recent thing that you cut or copied to a temporary “clipboard”. You will still be able to paste that swatch of text until you restart your computer or cut/copy something else. If you have Microsoft Word open when you cut and copy, your clipboard can hold multiple swatches of text at once.
If you want to copy the whole message, press Ctrl+A on a PC keyboard, or ⌘ Command+A on a Mac.
There are two Ctrl buttons on the bottom row of the keyboard – look for each button several spots to the right and left of the space bar. Similarly, there are two [command] buttons directly flanking the space bar on an Apple keyboard. If you are using a smartphone, hold your fingertip against the words you want to highlight. Once you’ve selected those words, you should be able to cut, copy, and paste them.
You can only paste the most recent phrase that you have cut or copied. If you have more than one thing to do, either lump the text together and cut/paste it all at once, or cut and paste the text-patches one at a time.
This is especially important if you are using keyboard shortcuts. If you are right-clicking and selecting “Paste”, however, you can simply right-click where you want the text. The action box to Paste will appear, and the blinking line will also move to the proper location.
