diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/format.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/format.rs
index fd82a123..8bbc0c23 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/format.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/format.rs
@@ -1170,13 +1170,28 @@ pub(crate) fn apply_painted(sh: &mut Shape, p: &Painted) {
     }
 }
 
-/// Does the text selection start at a paragraph's start and reach its end?
-fn covers_whole_paragraph(s: &Session) -> bool {
-    let Ok(st) = s.doc() else { return false };
-    let Some(t) = &st.selection.text else { return false };
+/// The paragraphs the text selection covers whole: it starts at or before their start and
+/// reaches their end. A paragraph the selection only touches the start of (it ends at offset
+/// 0, as after a triple-click) is not covered.
+fn covered_paragraphs(s: &Session) -> Vec<usize> {
+    let Ok(st) = s.doc() else { return vec![] };
+    let Some(t) = &st.selection.text else { return vec![] };
+    let Some(body) = super::text::body_of(st, t) else { return vec![] };
     let (a, b) = t.ordered();
-    let n = super::text::body_of(st, t).and_then(|body| body.paragraphs.get(b.0)).map_or(0, |x| x.char_len());
-    a.1 == 0 && (b.0 > a.0 || b.1 >= n)
+    (a.0..=b.0)
+        .filter(|&pi| {
+            let Some(para) = body.paragraphs.get(pi) else { return false };
+            let starts = pi > a.0 || a.1 == 0;
+            let ends = if pi < b.0 {
+                true
+            } else if b.0 > a.0 && b.1 == 0 {
+                false
+            } else {
+                b.1 >= para.char_len()
+            };
+            starts && ends
+        })
+        .collect()
 }
 
 fn painter_apply(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
@@ -1190,8 +1205,15 @@ fn painter_apply(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
         }
         // Paragraph formatting (bullets, alignment, spacing) goes only onto paragraphs the
         // selection covers whole; painting part of a bulleted line changes just its text.
-        if let Some(pp) = painted.para.clone().filter(|_| covers_whole_paragraph(s)) {
-            format_para(s, &move |para| para.props = pp.clone())?;
+        let covered = covered_paragraphs(s);
+        if let (Some(pp), false) = (painted.para.clone(), covered.is_empty()) {
+            super::text::edit_text(s, |body, _| {
+                for &pi in &covered {
+                    if let Some(para) = body.paragraphs.get_mut(pi) {
+                        para.props = pp.clone();
+                    }
+                }
+            })?;
         }
         return ok();
     }
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests_keys.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests_keys.rs
index b519c452..27845045 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests_keys.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests_keys.rs
@@ -508,3 +508,56 @@ fn format_painter_on_part_of_a_bulleted_line_keeps_its_bullet() {
     assert!(bold_at(&mut s, (1, 0)));
     assert!(bulleted(&mut s), "the bullet stays");
 }
+
+/// Three bulleted paragraphs "one", "two", "three" and the painter armed from bold plain text.
+fn painter_over_bullets() -> Session {
+    let (mut s, _) = editing("one\ntwo\nthree\nplain", (0, 0));
+    s.execute("text.select", &json!({"anchor": [3, 0], "caret": [3, 5]})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("format.bold", &json!({"on": true})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("text.select", &json!({"anchor": [0, 0], "caret": [2, 5]})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("format.bullets", &json!({"on": true})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("text.select", &json!({"anchor": [3, 0], "caret": [3, 5]})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("format.painter", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    s
+}
+
+fn bulleted(s: &mut Session, para: usize) -> bool {
+    s.execute("text.select", &json!({"anchor": [para, 0], "caret": [para, 0]})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("format.state", &json!({})).unwrap()["bullets"] == true
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn format_painter_paints_only_the_paragraphs_a_selection_covers() {
+    // Mid paragraph 0 to mid paragraph 2: only paragraph 1 is covered, so only it loses its bullet.
+    let mut s = painter_over_bullets();
+    s.execute("text.select", &json!({"anchor": [0, 1], "caret": [2, 2]})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("format.painterApply", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!([bulleted(&mut s, 0), bulleted(&mut s, 1), bulleted(&mut s, 2)], [true, false, true]);
+    // Start of paragraph 0 to mid paragraph 2: the partly covered last paragraph keeps its bullet.
+    let mut s = painter_over_bullets();
+    s.execute("text.select", &json!({"anchor": [0, 0], "caret": [2, 2]})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("format.painterApply", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!([bulleted(&mut s, 0), bulleted(&mut s, 1), bulleted(&mut s, 2)], [false, false, true]);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn format_painter_triple_click_leaves_the_next_paragraph_alone() {
+    use crate::tools::PointerKind::TripleClick;
+    let mut s = painter_over_bullets();
+    s.execute("text.select", &json!({"anchor": [0, 1], "caret": [0, 1]})).unwrap();
+    pointer(&mut s, TripleClick, 70.0, 70.0);
+    assert!(s.painter.is_none());
+    assert_eq!([bulleted(&mut s, 0), bulleted(&mut s, 1), bulleted(&mut s, 2)], [false, true, true]);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn format_painter_ignores_a_double_click_that_selects_nothing() {
+    use crate::tools::PointerKind::DoubleClick;
+    let mut s = painter_over_bullets();
+    s.execute("text.select", &json!({"anchor": [0, 0], "caret": [1, 2]})).unwrap();
+    let before = sel(&s);
+    pointer(&mut s, DoubleClick, 900.0, 520.0);
+    assert_eq!(sel(&s), before);
+    assert!(s.painter.is_some(), "a click that left the selection alone keeps the painter");
+    assert!(bulleted(&mut s, 0));
+}
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tools.rs b/crates/engine/src/tools.rs
index 029a1d50..b44b6816 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tools.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tools.rs
@@ -475,14 +475,16 @@ impl Session {
             PointerKind::Drag => self.drag(p, ev.mods, tol),
             PointerKind::Up => self.up(p, ev.mods),
             PointerKind::DoubleClick => {
+                let before = self.text_selection();
                 let r = self.double_click(p, tol)?;
-                self.paint_text_selection().map(|a| a.unwrap_or(r))
+                self.paint_if_selection_changed(before, r)
             }
             PointerKind::ContextClick => self.context_click(p, tol),
             PointerKind::TripleClick => {
                 if self.active().is_some_and(|d| d.selection.text.is_some()) {
+                    let before = self.text_selection();
                     let r = self.execute("text.selectParagraph", &json!({}))?;
-                    self.paint_text_selection().map(|a| a.unwrap_or(r))
+                    self.paint_if_selection_changed(before, r)
                 } else {
                     Ok(Value::Null)
                 }
@@ -498,6 +500,18 @@ impl Session {
         Ok(None)
     }
 
+    fn text_selection(&self) -> Option<((usize, usize), (usize, usize))> {
+        self.active().and_then(|d| d.selection.text.as_ref()).map(|t| (t.anchor, t.caret))
+    }
+
+    /// A double or triple click paints only the range it selected, not an older one it left alone.
+    fn paint_if_selection_changed(&mut self, before: Option<((usize, usize), (usize, usize))>, r: Value) -> Result<Value> {
+        if self.text_selection() == before {
+            return Ok(r);
+        }
+        self.paint_text_selection().map(|a| a.unwrap_or(r))
+    }
+
     pub(crate) fn begin(&mut self, label: &str) {
         if let Some(st) = self.active_mut()
             && st.interaction.is_none()