# Copy-then-paste username should results in @ and not links

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/copy-then-paste-username-should-results-in-and-not-links/101758>\
**Category:** Feature\
**Created:** [November 10, 2018, 9:41pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/copy-then-paste-username-should-results-in-and-not-links/101758 "2018-11-10T21:41:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tdelmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f9ae1b/32.png) [@tdelmas](https://meta.discourse.org/u/tdelmas)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2018, 9:41pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/copy-then-paste-username-should-results-in-and-not-links/101758/1 "2018-11-10T21:41:22Z")

</div>

I often copy usernames (because they are too long, or multiple users have very close user names, to avoid spelling mistakes or confusion) but when I paste them I get (for example with mine):  
`[tdelmas](https://meta.discourse.org/u/tdelmas)` (which become [tdelmas](https://meta.discourse.org/u/tdelmas)) instead of getting the text `tdelmas` or even `@tdelmas`

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nichalas\_Petranek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/nichalas_petranek/32/92404_2.png) [@Nichalas\_Petranek](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Nichalas_Petranek)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2018, 10:24pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/copy-then-paste-username-should-results-in-and-not-links/101758/2 "2018-11-10T22:24:04Z")

</div>

![Screenshot_20181110-172010_Chrome](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/4/1/41a2543e1e974eb33e8176de943eca43b79f87c0.jpeg)

I’m not sure what device you’re using, but at least on mobile there’s the option of copying the link address and copying the link text (at least on android). Copying the link text gives the desired result, although you may need to manually include the @ symbol. Desktop is an entirely different story though.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tdelmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f9ae1b/32.png) [@tdelmas](https://meta.discourse.org/u/tdelmas)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2018, 12:26pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/copy-then-paste-username-should-results-in-and-not-links/101758/3 "2018-11-11T12:26:05Z")

</div>

> [@Nichalas\_Petranek](#):
>
> you may need to manually include the @ symbol

That’s ok for me!

> [@Nichalas\_Petranek](#):
>
> Desktop is an entirely different story though.

Firefox on desktop:

- Right click only gives the option to copy link (not text)
- Select the text then right click give the option to “copy” but copy the link not the text

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![meglio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/meglio/32/71444_2.png) [@meglio](https://meta.discourse.org/u/meglio)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 11:55pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/copy-then-paste-username-should-results-in-and-not-links/101758/4 "2020-02-16T23:55:37Z")

</div>

I suggest that when inserting a nickname and the cursor is preceded with `@`, no formatting should be applied.

**Step 1.** Copy username

**Step 2.** Type `@` in the message editor

**Step 3.** Press Command-V

Result: `@[KhersonGoPri](https://forum.kozovod.com/u/KhersonGoPri)`

Suggested improvement would result in: `@KhersonGoPri` - no formatting applied because the username is being inserted right after the `@` sign.

* * *

> [@Nichalas\_Petranek](#):
>
> I’m not sure what device you’re using, but at least on mobile there’s the option of copying the link address and copying the link text (at least on android).

On a laptop, I just select the username and Command-C, so the link _with_ formatting gets copied.