When copying from the cookbook, what should you always use to avoid bringing formulas and formatting?

• A. Paste formulas
• B. Paste plain text
• C. Paste values
• D. Paste with formatting

Answer: (C)

Pasting values is the technique to use when you want the data as it currently appears, without bringing over formulas or formatting. When you copy cells that contain formulas, those formulas would normally be carried into the destination, potentially adjusting references or recalculating in a new context. Pasting only the values takes the results those formulas produced and places them as static data, so you get the numbers or text exactly as shown, with no formulas driving them. It also avoids importing formatting like fonts, colors, borders, and number formats, keeping the destination clean and predictable. If you instead paste as plain text, you might convert numbers to text and lose numeric behavior; pasting with formatting would bring everything along, which isn’t desired here.