1. A computer-readable storage medium device having a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for automated document formatting, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising: determining a selection of a document element in a source document; determining a paste point in a target document; comparing source formatting properties associated with the document element to target formatting properties associated with the target document in order to determine intended formatting properties for the document element when included in the target document; pasting the document element in the target document with the intended formatting properties; determining whether the paste point is adjacent to a target list item in an existing target list in the target document; displaying a recovery action user interface comprising a selectable action for pasting the document element at the paste point as a new independent list in the target document; receiving the recovery action selection for pasting the document element at the paste point as the new independent list in the target document; removing the pasted document element from the existing target list; and pasting the document element at the paste point as the new independent list in the target document, in response to receiving the recovery action selection.