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Productivity can be significantly improved in Microsoft Word by making use of the shortcut keys on the keyboard, particularly when an external keyboard is being utilized. Because they provide an alternative to the use of a touchscreen or mouse for interacting with content, these shortcuts are especially helpful for users who have mobility or vision impairments.
If you routinely produce or modify documents in Word, taking the effort to learn a selection of keyboard shortcuts specific to Microsoft Word can dramatically increase the efficiency of your work process. The fact that many of these shortcuts may also be used in other Microsoft Office apps, like as Excel and PowerPoint, is an additional benefit of using these shortcuts.
Best Microsoft Word Keyboard Shortcuts
Despite the fact that this guide is primarily intended for Windows users, we have added several shortcuts that are exclusive to macOS. When coupled with an external keyboard, many of the keyboard shortcuts that are available for usage on your macOS computer are also compatible with iPhones and iPads. If you use keyboard shortcuts on your macOS device, you will notice that this is the case.
Shortcut | Function |
---|---|
Ctrl + Left Arrow | Move one word to the left |
Ctrl + Right Arrow | Move one word to the right |
Ctrl + Up Arrow | Move to the beginning of the paragraph |
Ctrl + Down Arrow | Move to the end of the paragraph |
Ctrl + Home | Move to the beginning of the document |
Ctrl + End | Move to the end of the document |
Ctrl + Page Up | Move to the previous page |
Ctrl + Page Down | Move to the next page |
Text Selection:
Shortcut | Function |
---|---|
Shift + Left Arrow | Select one character to the left |
Shift + Right Arrow | Select one character to the right |
Ctrl + Shift + Left Arrow | Select one word to the left |
Ctrl + Shift + Right Arrow | Select one word to the right |
Shift + Up Arrow | Extend selection up one line |
Shift + Down Arrow | Extend selection down one line |
Ctrl + Shift + Home | Extend selection to the beginning of the document |
Ctrl + Shift + End | Extend selection to the end of the document |
Text Formatting:
Shortcut | Function |
---|---|
Ctrl + B | Bold |
Ctrl + I | Italic |
Ctrl + U | Underline |
Ctrl + Shift + > | Increase font size |
Ctrl + Shift + < | Decrease font size |
Ctrl + Shift + F | Change font |
Ctrl + Shift + L | Apply Bulleted List |
Ctrl + E | Center alignment |
Ctrl + L | Left alignment |
Ctrl + R | Right alignment |
Ctrl + J | Justify alignment |
Editing:
Shortcut | Function |
---|---|
Ctrl + C | Copy |
Ctrl + X | Cut |
Ctrl + V | Paste |
Ctrl + Z | Undo |
Ctrl + Y | Redo |
Ctrl + F | Find |
Ctrl + H | Replace |
Ctrl + A | Select All |
Shortcut | Function |
---|---|
Ctrl + G | Go To |
Ctrl + F6 | Switch between open documents |
Ctrl + Tab | Switch to the next document |
Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Switch to the previous document |
Best Microsoft Word Keyboard Shortcuts for Different Platforms
You can save time by avoiding the need to click the mouse or travel through menus by making use of keyboard shortcuts, which allow you to complete activities and actions more rapidly. This time-saving benefit is especially useful for activities that you carry out on a regular basis.
macOS Shortcuts:
Shortcut | Action |
---|---|
Command + N | Create a new document |
Command + O | Open an existing document |
Command + S | Save the current document |
Command + Shift + S | Save As |
Command + C | Copy selected text |
Command + X | Cut selected text |
Command + V | Paste copied/cut text |
Command + Z | Undo |
Command + Y | Redo |
Command + F | Find |
Command + H | Replace |
Command + B | Bold |
Command + I | Italic |
Command + U | Underline |
Command + L | Align left |
Command + E | Align center |
Command + R | Align right |
Command + Shift + L | Apply bullets or numbering |
Command + 1 | Single-line spacing |
Command + 2 | Double-line spacing |
Command + 5 | 1.5-line spacing |
Command + Shift + > | Increase font size |
Command + Shift + < | Decrease font size |
Windows Shortcuts:
Shortcut | Action |
---|---|
Ctrl + N | Create a new document |
Ctrl + O | Open an existing document |
Ctrl + S | Save the current document |
Ctrl + Shift + S | Save As |
Ctrl + C | Copy selected text |
Ctrl + X | Cut selected text |
Ctrl + V | Paste copied/cut text |
Ctrl + Z | Undo |
Ctrl + Y | Redo |
Ctrl + F | Find |
Ctrl + H | Replace |
Ctrl + B | Bold |
Ctrl + I | Italic |
Ctrl + U | Underline |
Ctrl + L | Align left |
Ctrl + E | Align center |
Ctrl + R | Align right |
Ctrl + Shift + L | Apply bullets or numbering |
Ctrl + 1 | Single-line spacing |
Ctrl + 2 | Double-line spacing |
Ctrl + 5 | 1.5-line spacing |
How to Access Keyboard Shortcuts in Microsoft Word?
To access the shortcuts on your keyboard in Microsoft Word:
- Windows: While holding down the “Alt” key, start Windows. The keyboard shortcuts for the different commands will be shown as letters on the Ribbon and as individual menu items.
- On a Mac, you need to depress and keep holding the “Option” key. On the Ribbon as well as the individual menu items, you’ll find shortcut keys.
Questions and Answers
A “hot key” is a key or group of keys on a computer keyboard that, when hit all at once, does something faster than a mouse or other input device. For example, a hot key might start an application. Shortcut keys are another name for hot keys.
When you press Ctrl + F in a document or web browser, a search box will appear in the top right part of the screen. Then you can type in a term or phrase to find places in the text where that word or phrase is used. This is often helpful for finding important parts.
Press Ctrl + Z to undo what you just did. Press Ctrl + Y to undo what you just did. With Undo and Redo, you can remove or repeat a single or multiple typing actions. However, you can only undo or redo actions in the same order that you did or removed them.