The more you can use the keyboard for getting around or doing tasks in programs or online, the faster you will be. Also, the same keyboard commands often work in situations where you can’t find the command elsewhere in the program you are using. So get to know some of these shortcuts gradually. Commit to picking out one a day to focus on. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you remember and use them.
These are the shortcuts I teach in my beginning Word class.
Getting around a document or a page using the keyboard:
Key |
Moves Your Cursor: |
HOME | Beginning of the line |
Ctrl + Home | Top of the document |
END | End (right side) of line |
Ctrl + End | Bottom of the document |
CTRL + right arrow | Word-by word |
CTRL + down arrow | Moves your cursor down paragraph by paragraph |
Selecting text:
Select What |
Do this: |
Select character-by-character | Shift + Right Arrow |
Select word-by word | Double-click on the word |
Select sentence | CTRL + click on sentence |
Paragraph | Triple-click on the paragraph |
Select blocks of text. Click once at your starting point, Shift-click at your ending point. | Click at your starting point, SHIFT + Click at ending point |
Select Vertical blocks of text | Hold ALT key down and drag over text. |
Select ALL (the entire document!) | Get right-pointed arrow in the left margin and CTRL + Click |
Other cool shortcuts:
Task |
Do This: |
Find words or phrases | CTRL + F, Type in word or phrase, click Next |
Tab (indent) mid-paragraph line | CTRL + Tab |
Double space | CTRL + 2 |
Single space | CTRL + 1 |
1.5 Space | CTRL + 5 |
Page Break | CTRL + Enter |
Switch to other windows | Hold ALT key down, press TAB |
Undo | CTRL + Z |