Alina Bradford

View Original

140+ Keyboard shortcuts to make writing faster

Alina Bradford

I’ve been seeing a post going around Facebook about keyboard shortcuts that can save you time while writing. It’s information that’s well known to people who have been writing (or just typing!) for a long time, so I thought I would share a big long list with you, just in case you didn’t know all of the PC keyboard shortcuts. Here’s the shortcuts and why you need them in your life.

What are keyboard shortcuts?

What are keyboard shortcuts? The are keys you press to signal to your computer that you want a certain function. For example, the most common shortcut is pressing the CTRL button and the C button to copy highlighted text on the screen. There are around dozens of combinations.

See this content in the original post

Benefits of memorizing keyboard shortcuts

Just by memorizing the shortcuts you’ll use most, you can shave massive amounts of time off your writing sessions over a day, a month, and a year. I know, I used to be stubborn, too, and wouldn’t learn them. I mean, how long does it really take to use your mouse to click on the Bold or Italic option in WordPress or Microsoft Word?

See this content in the original post

Over time, I realized that taking my hands off the keyboard to reach for my mouse halted my thought process and it took a bit to get back on track once my hands were back on the keyboard. So, keyboard shortcuts let me process my thoughts much faster, saving a lot of time.

See this content in the original post

How to memorize keyboard shortcuts

Be sure to print these out and keep them by your computer so that you can glance at them while your writing and start using them. Even better, write a few down on a sticky note and post them somewhere near your screen until you have them memorized. Then, post some more. Before you know it, you’ll have them all memorized!

See this content in the original post

Keyboard shortcuts to make writing faster

Okay, No-Fluff writer. Without further ado, I present to you the list of keyboard shortcuts that will make your typing faster, and a few that will help with flipping back and forth while researching, reading emails, and other tasks:

GENERAL SHORTCUTS (the first 8 generally work on most programs or content management system, like Wordpress for example)

  1. CTRL+A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Select All

  2. CTRL+C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Copy

  3. CTRL+X. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cut

  4. CTRL+V. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paste

  5. CTRL+Z. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Undo

  6. CTRL+B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bold

  7. CTRL+U. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Underline

  8. CTRL+I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Italic

  9. F1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Help

  10. F2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rename selected object

  11. F3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Find all files

  12. F4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Opens file list drop-down in dialogs

  13. F5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Refresh current window

  14. F6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shifts focus in Windows Explorer

  15. F10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Activates menu bar options

  16. ALT+TAB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cycles between open applications

  17. ALT+F4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Quit program, close current window

  18. ALT+F6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Switch between current program windows

  19. ALT+ENTER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Opens properties dialog

  20. ALT+SPACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . System menu for current window

  21. ALT+¢ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . opens drop-down lists in dialog boxes

  22. BACKSPACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . Switch to parent folder

  23. CTRL+ESC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Opens Start menu

  24. CTRL+ALT+DEL . . . . . . . . . . Opens task manager, reboots the computer

  25. CTRL+TAB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Move through property tabs

  26. CTRL+SHIFT+DRAG . . . . . . . Create shortcut (also right-click, drag)

  27. CTRL+DRAG . . . . . . . . . . . . . Copy File

  28. ESC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cancel last function

  29. SHIFT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Press/hold SHIFT, insert CD-ROM to bypass auto-play

  30. SHIFT+DRAG . . . . . . . . . . . . Move file

  31. SHIFT+F10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Opens context menu (same as right-click)

  32. SHIFT+DELETE . . . . . . . . . . . Full wipe delete (bypasses Recycle Bin)

  33. ALT+ underlined letter . . . . Opens the corresponding menu

    Document Cursor Controls

  34. HOME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . to beginning of line or far left of field or screen

  35. END . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . to end of line, or far right of field or screen

  36. CTRL+HOME . . . . . . . . to the top

  37. CTRL+END . . . . . . . . . . to the bottom

  38. PAGE UP . . . . . . . . . . . . moves document or dialog box up one page

  39. PAGE DOWN . . . . . . . . moves document or dialog down one page

  40. ARROW KEYS . . . . . . . move focus in documents, dialogs, etc.

  41. CTRL+ > . . . . . . . . . . . . next word

  42. CTRL+SHIFT+ > . . . . . . selects word

    SPECIAL CHARACTERS

  43. Alt 0145 . . . ‘ Opening single quote

  44. Alt 0146. . . . ‘ Closing single quote

  45. Alt 0147. . . “ Opening double quote

  46. Alt 0148. . . “ Closing double quote

  47. Alt 0150… – En dash

  48. Alt 0151… — Em dash

  49. Alt 0133… Ellipsis

  50. Alt 0149… • Bullet

  51. Alt 0174… ® Registration Mark

  52. Alt 0169… © Copyright

  53. Alt 0153… ™ Trademark

  54. Alt 0176… ° Degree symbol

  55. Alt 0162… ¢ Cent sig

  56. Alt 0188… 1⁄4

  57. Alt 0189… 1⁄2

  58. Alt 0190… 3⁄4

  59. Alt 0233… é

  60. Alt 0201… É

  61. Alt 0241… ñ

  62. Alt 0247… ÷

    FILE MENU OPTIONS IN A CURENT PROGRAM

  63. Alt + E… Edit options in current program

  64. F1… Universal help (for all programs)

  65. Ctrl + A… Select all text

  66. Ctrl + X… Cut selected item

  67. Shift + Del… Cut selected item

  68. Ctrl + C… Copy selected item

  69. Ctrl + Ins… Copy selected item

  70. Ctrl + V… Paste

  71. Shift + Ins… Paste

  72. Home… Go to beginning of current line

  73. Ctrl + Home… Go to beginning of document

  74. End… Go to end of current line

  75. Ctrl + End… Go to end of document

  76. Shift + Home… Highlight from current position to beginning of line

  77. Shift + End… Highlight from current position to end of line

  78. Ctrl + f… Move one word to the left at a time

  79. Ctrl + g… Move one word to the right at a time

    MICROSOFT WINDOWS SHORTCUT KEYS

  80. Alt + Tab… Switch between open applications

  81. Alt + Shift + Tab… Switch backwards between open applications

  82. Alt + Print Screen… Create screen shot for current program

  83. Ctrl + Alt + Del Reboot/Windows®… task manager

  84. Ctrl + Esc… Bring up start menu

  85. Alt + Esc… Switch between applications on taskbar

  86. F2.. Rename selected icon

  87. F3… Start find from desktop

  88. F4… Open the drive selection when browsing

  89. F5… Refresh contents

  90. Alt + F4… Close current open program

  91. Ctrl + F4… Close window in program

  92. Ctrl + Plus Key… Automatically adjust widths of all columns in Windows Explorer

  93. Alt + Enter… Open properties window of selected icon or program

  94. Shift + F10… Simulate right-click on selected item

  95. Shift + Del… Delete programs/files permanently

  96. Holding Shift During Bootup… Boot safe mode or bypass system files

  97. Holding Shift During Bootup when putting in an audio CD, will prevent CD Player from playing

    WINKEY SHORTCUTS

  98. WINKEY + D… Bring desktop to the top of other windows

  99. WINKEY + M… Minimize all windows

  100. WINKEY + SHIFT + M… Undo the minimize done by WINKEY + M and WINKEY + D

  101. WINKEY + E… Open File Explorer

  102. WINKEY + Tab… Cycle through open programs on taskbar

  103. WINKEY + F… Display the Windows® Search/Find feature

  104. WINKEY + CTRL + F… Display the search for computers window

  105. WINKEY + F1… Display the Microsoft® Windows® help

  106. WINKEY + R… Open the run window

  107. WINKEY + Pause /Break… Open the system properties window

  108. WINKEY + U… Open utility manager

  109. WINKEY + L… Lock the computer (Windows XP® & later)

    OUTLOOK SHORTCUT KEYS

  110. Alt + S… Send the email

  111. Ctrl + C… Copy selected text

  112. Ctrl + X… Cut selected text

  113. Ctrl + P… Open print dialog box

  114. Ctrl + K… Complete name/email typed in address bar

  115. Ctrl + B… Bold highlighted selection

  116. Ctrl + I… Italicize highlighted selection

  117. Ctrl + U… Underline highlighted selection

  118. Ctrl + R… Reply to an email

  119. Ctrl + F… Forward an email

  120. Ctrl + N… Create a new email

  121. Ctrl + Shift + A… Create a new appointment to your calendar

  122. Ctrl + Shift + O… Open the outbox

  123. Ctrl + Shift + I… Open the inbox

  124. Ctrl + Shift + K… Add a new task

  125. Ctrl + Shift + C… Create a new contact

  126. Ctrl + Shift+ J… Create a new journal entry

    WORD SHORTCUT KEYS

  127. Ctrl + A… Select all contents of the page

  128. Ctrl + B… Bold highlighted selection

  129. Ctrl + C… Copy selected text

  130. Ctrl + X… Cut selected text

  131. Ctrl + N… Open new/blank document

  132. Ctrl + O… Open options

  133. Ctrl + P… Open the print window

  134. Ctrl + F… Open find box

  135. Ctrl + I… Italicize highlighted selection

  136. Ctrl + K… Insert link

  137. Ctrl + U… Underline highlighted selection

  138. Ctrl + V… Paste

  139. Ctrl + Y… Redo the last action performed

  140. Ctrl + Z… Undo last action

  141. Ctrl + G… Find and replace options

  142. Ctrl + H… Find and replace options

  143. Ctrl + J… Justify paragraph alignment

  144. Ctrl + L… Align selected text or line to the left

  145. Ctrl + Q… Align selected paragraph to the left

  146. Ctrl + E… Align selected