Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of keys that allow users to perform common Microsoft Word commands quickly without repeatedly using the mouse or navigating through menus. Learning commonly used shortcuts can make document creation, editing, formatting and navigation faster and more efficient.

A keyboard shortcut is a combination of one or more keys used to perform a particular command. For example, Ctrl + S saves a document, while Ctrl + C copies selected content.

Selection shortcuts allow users to highlight text quickly without dragging the mouse. They are especially useful when editing or formatting larger sections of a document.

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 previous paragraph.

Ctrl + Down Arrow
→ Move to the beginning
  of the next paragraph.

Page Up
→ Move up one screen.

Page Down
→ Move down one screen.

Ctrl + Home
→ Go to the beginning
  of the document.

Ctrl + End
→ Go to the end
  of the document.

Ctrl + S
→ Save the document.

        ↓

Ctrl + P
→ Open the Print screen.

        ↓

Review printer settings.

        ↓

Check page range
and number of copies.

        ↓

Click Print.

A beginner does not need to memorize every available keyboard shortcut. Start with the commands that are used most frequently while creating and editing documents.

Open the document.

        ↓

Ctrl + A
Select all text.

        ↓

Ctrl + C
Copy the content.

        ↓

Ctrl + F
Find a required word.

        ↓

Ctrl + H
Replace text if required.

        ↓

Ctrl + B
Make selected text bold.

        ↓

Ctrl + S
Save the changes.

        ↓

Ctrl + P
Print the document.

Organizing keyboard shortcuts into categories makes them easier to learn and remember. The following table provides a quick reference to some of the most commonly used Microsoft Word shortcuts.

1. Create a new document
   using Ctrl + N.

2. Type a short paragraph.

3. Select the paragraph.

4. Copy it using Ctrl + C.

5. Paste it using Ctrl + V.

6. Select a heading and
   apply Ctrl + B.

7. Center the heading
   using Ctrl + E.

8. Find a word using
   Ctrl + F.

9. Save the document
   using Ctrl + S.

10. Open the Print screen
    using Ctrl + P.

• Learn the most frequently used shortcuts first.
• Practice shortcuts while creating real documents.
• Use Ctrl + S regularly to prevent loss of recent changes.
• Use Ctrl + Z when an unwanted action is performed.
• Use Ctrl + F to quickly locate information in long documents.
• Use Ctrl + H when several occurrences of text need to be replaced.
• Use formatting shortcuts to reduce repetitive mouse operations.
• Use navigation shortcuts when working with long documents.
• Keep a shortcut reference nearby while learning.
• Gradually replace frequently repeated mouse actions with keyboard shortcuts.

Step 1
Learn document shortcuts.

Ctrl + N
Ctrl + O
Ctrl + S
Ctrl + P

        ↓

Step 2
Learn editing shortcuts.

Ctrl + X
Ctrl + C
Ctrl + V
Ctrl + Z
Ctrl + Y

        ↓

Step 3
Learn formatting shortcuts.

Ctrl + B
Ctrl + I
Ctrl + U
Ctrl + L
Ctrl + E
Ctrl + R
Ctrl + J

        ↓

Step 4
Learn navigation and
review shortcuts.

Ctrl + F
Ctrl + H
Ctrl + Home
Ctrl + End
F7

• Ctrl + N — Create a new document.
• Ctrl + O — Open a document.
• Ctrl + S — Save the document.
• Ctrl + P — Print the document.
• Ctrl + C — Copy selected content.
• Ctrl + X — Cut selected content.
• Ctrl + V — Paste content.
• Ctrl + Z — Undo an action.
• Ctrl + Y — Redo an action.
• Ctrl + A — Select all content.
• Ctrl + B — Apply bold formatting.
• Ctrl + I — Apply italic formatting.
• Ctrl + U — Apply underline formatting.
• Ctrl + F — Find text.
• Ctrl + H — Find and replace text.
• Ctrl + Home — Go to the beginning of the document.
• Ctrl + End — Go to the end of the document.
• F7 — Check spelling and grammar.