A content formatting process receives identification of selected content within an original document, and identifies formatting information associated with the selected content, but not contained within the selected content. The identified formatting information is applied to the selected content when the selected content is copied to a revised document. During the content formatting process, the original document is scanned to identify formatting characters within the document. The various types of formatting identified by the content formatting process are presented to the user, and the user is prompted to choose which types of formatting should be applied to a new, revised document. The content formatting process receives the selection(s) of the formatting types, from the user, and the chosen formatting types are applied to the selected content in the new, revised document.