Davd,
I just don't see a simple solution. This may work, but in complex documents with things other than text, it might fall over:
Code:
Sub ScratchMacro()
'A basic Word macro coded by Greg Maxey
Dim oRng As Word.Range
Dim lngS As Long, lngE As Long
Set oRng = Selection.Range
lngS = Len(ActiveDocument.Range.Text)
oRng.PasteSpecial DataType:=wdPasteText
lngE = Len(ActiveDocument.Range.Text)
oRng.MoveStart wdCharacter, -(lngE - lngS)
oRng.Select
lbl_Exit:
Exit Sub
End Sub