Microsoft Word
Review of Common Text Editing Keyboard Shortcuts
Before learning any new keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Word, you may wish to review the
Common Keyboard Shortcuts article in the
Keyboard section. Those basics are absolutely vital for saving time when working with Microsoft Word.
For the sake of completeness, I've included the common keyboard shortcuts discussed from that article in these tables as well. So, you may see some keyboard shortcuts you already know.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Formatting Text: Changing Decoration
Ctrl+B | Bold the selected text bold |
Ctrl+I | Italicize the selected text italic |
Ctrl+U | Underline the selected text |
Ctrl+Shift+D | Double underline |
Ctrl+= | Subscript |
Ctrl+Shift+= | Superscript |
Ctrl+Shift+N | Apply "Normal" style |
Formatting Text: Changing Fonts
Ctrl+D | Open font options dialog box |
Ctrl+Shift+F | Select font face in toolbar |
Ctrl+Shift+P | Select font size in toolbar |
Ctrl+] | Increase font size by one pt |
Ctrl+[ | Decrease font size by one pt |
Ctrl+Shift+> | Increase font size |
Ctrl+Shift+<< | Decrease font size |
Ctrl+Spacebar | Reset to default font face |
Formatting Text: Manipulating Paragraphs
Ctrl+E | Center paragraph |
Ctrl+M | Justify paragraph |
Ctrl+L | Flush paragraph left |
Ctrl+R | Flush paragraph right |
Ctrl+M | Indent paragraph |
Ctrl+Shift+M | Un-indent paragraph |
Ctrl+1 | Single-space lines |
Ctrl+2 | Double-space lines |
Ctrl+5 | 1.5-space lines |
Remember that you can use these keyboard shortcuts both for existing text and for new text. To understand, let's look at the example of bolding text:
- If you have existing text that you want to bold: 1) select that text, 2) hit theCtrl+B keyboard shortcut to make the text bold.
- If you are going to type some text that you want to be bold: 1) hit the Ctrl+Bkeyboard shortcut, 2) type the text, 3) then hit Ctrl+B again to turn off the bolding.
Editing Text
Ctrl+Backspace | Delete the previous word |
Ctrl+Del | Delete the next word |
Ctrl+F | Find text in the current document |
Ctrl+H | Replace text in the current document |
Ctrl+Enter | Page break |
Moving the Cursor
These keyboard shortcuts are great for navigating around documents. For example, I use Ctrl+RightArrow (move the cursor right one word) when I'm trying to edit a word in the middle of a line since it gets me there faster than picking up my mouse and clicking there. I also use Ctrl+DownArrow (move the cursor to the next paragraph) to scan the entire document quickly.
PageUp | Move the cursor up a page |
PageDown | Move the cursor down a page |
Home | Move the cursor to the beginning of the line |
End | Move the cursor to the end of the line |
Ctrl+Home | Move the cursor to the beginning of the document |
Ctrl+End | Move the cursor to the end of the document |
Ctrl+LeftArrow | Move the cursor left one word |
Ctrl+RightArrow | Move the cursor right one word |
Ctrl+UpArrow | Move the cursor to beginning of, or previous paragraph |
Ctrl+DownArrow | Move the cursor to end of, or next paragraph |
Selecting Text
The keyboard shortcuts for selecting text are directly related to those that move the cursor around. Just add a Shift:
Shift+PageUp | Select everything between the cursor and a page previous |
Shift+PageDown | Select everything between the cursor and a page after |
Shift+Home | Select everything between the cursor and the beginning of the line |
Shift+End | Select everything between the cursor and the end of the line |
Shift+Ctrl+Home | Select everything betweeen the cursor and the beginning of the document |
Shift+Ctrl+End | Select everything between the cursor and the end of the document |
Shift+Ctrl+LeftArrow | Select the word to the left |
Shift+Ctrl+RightArrow | Select the word to the right |
Using the Clipboard
Ctrl+C | Copy what's selected |
Ctrl+X | Cut what's selected |
Ctrl+V | Paste what you last copied or cut |
Ctrl+A | Select all |
Working with Documents
Ctrl+N | New document |
Ctrl+O | Open existing document |
Ctrl+S | Save document |
F12 | Save document as... |
Ctrl+W | Close document |
Ctrl+P | Print document |
Ctrl+F6 | Switch to the next open documewnt |
Ctrl+Shift+F6 | Switch to the previous open documewnt |
Alt+F4 | Exit Microsoft Word |
Miscellaneous
F7 | Open spellcheck dialog box |
Shift+F7 | Open thesaurus dialog box |
Ctrl+Z | Undo your last action |
Ctrl+Y | Redo your last action |
Mouse Shortcuts
Microsoft Word also has support for some mouse shortcuts. Overall, I recommend learning the keyboard shortcuts so you don't have to switch from keyboard to mouse to keyboard. But, sometimes these can come in handy:
Double-click a word | Select the word |
Triple-click a word | Select the paragraph |
Left-click the space on the left of a line | Select the line |
Double-click the space on the left of a line | Select the paragraph |
Ctrl+ScrollUp | Zoom in on the document |
Ctrl+ScrollDown | Zoom out of the document |
Click and drag some text | Select text from where you click and hold to where you let go |
Click and drag the space on the left of a line | Select the lines you drag over |
Example Scenarios
Scenario: Bold some text you are about to type
- Ctrl+B to turn on the bold feature
- Type the text you want to be bold
- Ctrl+B to turn off the bold feature
|
Scenario: Selecting A Line Of Text
- Home to move the cursor to the beginning of the line
- Shift-End to move the cursor to the end of the line and select everything alonig the way
|
Links To More Information
Review of Common Text Editing Keyboard Shortcuts
Before learning any new keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Word, you may wish to review the
Common Keyboard Shortcuts article in the
Keyboard section. Those basics are absolutely vital for saving time when working with Microsoft Word.
For the sake of completeness, I've included the common keyboard shortcuts discussed from that article in these tables as well. So, you may see some keyboard shortcuts you already know.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Formatting Text: Changing Decoration
Ctrl+B | Bold the selected text bold |
Ctrl+I | Italicize the selected text italic |
Ctrl+U | Underline the selected text |
Ctrl+Shift+D | Double underline |
Ctrl+= | Subscript |
Ctrl+Shift+= | Superscript |
Ctrl+Shift+N | Apply "Normal" style |
Formatting Text: Changing Fonts
Ctrl+D | Open font options dialog box |
Ctrl+Shift+F | Select font face in toolbar |
Ctrl+Shift+P | Select font size in toolbar |
Ctrl+] | Increase font size by one pt |
Ctrl+[ | Decrease font size by one pt |
Ctrl+Shift+> | Increase font size |
Ctrl+Shift+<< | Decrease font size |
Ctrl+Spacebar | Reset to default font face |
Formatting Text: Manipulating Paragraphs
Ctrl+E | Center paragraph |
Ctrl+M | Justify paragraph |
Ctrl+L | Flush paragraph left |
Ctrl+R | Flush paragraph right |
Ctrl+M | Indent paragraph |
Ctrl+Shift+M | Un-indent paragraph |
Ctrl+1 | Single-space lines |
Ctrl+2 | Double-space lines |
Ctrl+5 | 1.5-space lines |
Remember that you can use these keyboard shortcuts both for existing text and for new text. To understand, let's look at the example of bolding text:
- If you have existing text that you want to bold: 1) select that text, 2) hit theCtrl+B keyboard shortcut to make the text bold.
- If you are going to type some text that you want to be bold: 1) hit the Ctrl+Bkeyboard shortcut, 2) type the text, 3) then hit Ctrl+B again to turn off the bolding.
Editing Text
Ctrl+Backspace | Delete the previous word |
Ctrl+Del | Delete the next word |
Ctrl+F | Find text in the current document |
Ctrl+H | Replace text in the current document |
Ctrl+Enter | Page break |
Moving the Cursor
These keyboard shortcuts are great for navigating around documents. For example, I use Ctrl+RightArrow (move the cursor right one word) when I'm trying to edit a word in the middle of a line since it gets me there faster than picking up my mouse and clicking there. I also use Ctrl+DownArrow (move the cursor to the next paragraph) to scan the entire document quickly.
PageUp | Move the cursor up a page |
PageDown | Move the cursor down a page |
Home | Move the cursor to the beginning of the line |
End | Move the cursor to the end of the line |
Ctrl+Home | Move the cursor to the beginning of the document |
Ctrl+End | Move the cursor to the end of the document |
Ctrl+LeftArrow | Move the cursor left one word |
Ctrl+RightArrow | Move the cursor right one word |
Ctrl+UpArrow | Move the cursor to beginning of, or previous paragraph |
Ctrl+DownArrow | Move the cursor to end of, or next paragraph |
Selecting Text
The keyboard shortcuts for selecting text are directly related to those that move the cursor around. Just add a Shift:
Shift+PageUp | Select everything between the cursor and a page previous |
Shift+PageDown | Select everything between the cursor and a page after |
Shift+Home | Select everything between the cursor and the beginning of the line |
Shift+End | Select everything between the cursor and the end of the line |
Shift+Ctrl+Home | Select everything betweeen the cursor and the beginning of the document |
Shift+Ctrl+End | Select everything between the cursor and the end of the document |
Shift+Ctrl+LeftArrow | Select the word to the left |
Shift+Ctrl+RightArrow | Select the word to the right |
Using the Clipboard
Ctrl+C | Copy what's selected |
Ctrl+X | Cut what's selected |
Ctrl+V | Paste what you last copied or cut |
Ctrl+A | Select all |
Working with Documents
Ctrl+N | New document |
Ctrl+O | Open existing document |
Ctrl+S | Save document |
F12 | Save document as... |
Ctrl+W | Close document |
Ctrl+P | Print document |
Ctrl+F6 | Switch to the next open documewnt |
Ctrl+Shift+F6 | Switch to the previous open documewnt |
Alt+F4 | Exit Microsoft Word |
Miscellaneous
F7 | Open spellcheck dialog box |
Shift+F7 | Open thesaurus dialog box |
Ctrl+Z | Undo your last action |
Ctrl+Y | Redo your last action |
Mouse Shortcuts
Microsoft Word also has support for some mouse shortcuts. Overall, I recommend learning the keyboard shortcuts so you don't have to switch from keyboard to mouse to keyboard. But, sometimes these can come in handy:
Double-click a word | Select the word |
Triple-click a word | Select the paragraph |
Left-click the space on the left of a line | Select the line |
Double-click the space on the left of a line | Select the paragraph |
Ctrl+ScrollUp | Zoom in on the document |
Ctrl+ScrollDown | Zoom out of the document |
Click and drag some text | Select text from where you click and hold to where you let go |
Click and drag the space on the left of a line | Select the lines you drag over |
Example Scenarios
Scenario: Bold some text you are about to type
- Ctrl+B to turn on the bold feature
- Type the text you want to be bold
- Ctrl+B to turn off the bold feature
|
Scenario: Selecting A Line Of Text
- Home to move the cursor to the beginning of the line
- Shift-End to move the cursor to the end of the line and select everything alonig the way
|
Links To More Information
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