Productivity Reference

Keyboard Shortcuts

A keyboard shortcut is a combination of keys that performs a specific action. The shortcuts typically involve one or more modifier keys such as Ctrl, Alt, or Command combined with another key usually a letter, number, or punctuation symbol. By using keyboard shortcuts, you can bypass navigating through menus and dialog boxes in software applications. Tasks that would normally require multiple clicks with a mouse can be accomplished swiftly using shortcuts, and you will be less relying on mouse movements. Professionals who use keyboard shortcuts efficiently perform repetitive actions more quickly. Most software allows customization of keyboard shortcuts. Users can assign their preferred shortcuts for specific functions. Additionally, each application often has its own unique set of shortcuts. We have crafted shortcuts for most commonly used applications across multiple platforms.

Practical Notes

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Keyboard shortcuts are easiest to adopt when you focus on repeated actions instead of trying to memorize an entire application at once.

Start with frequent tasks

Learn the commands you use every hour: search, save, switch tabs, copy, paste, undo, and open command menus.

Mind the platform

The same action may use Ctrl on Windows or Linux and Command on macOS.

Practice in context

Shortcuts stick faster when you use them during real work instead of reading a list once.

Shortcut	Application	Action
`Alt`+`W`then`Q`thenthen use the Tab key in the Zoom dialog box to go to the value you want.	MS Word	Adjust the zoom magnification.
`Ctrl`+`L`	MS Word	Align the paragraph to the left.
`Ctrl`+`R`	MS Word	Align the paragraph to the right.
`Ctrl`+`L`	MS Word	Align the text to the left.
`Ctrl`+`R`	MS Word	Align the text to the right.
`Ctrl`+`5`	MS Word	Apply 1.5-line spacing to the paragraph.
`Ctrl`+`B`	MS Word	Apply bold formatting to text.
`Ctrl`+`B`	MS Word	Apply bold formatting.
`Ctrl`+`2`	MS Word	Apply double spacing to the paragraph.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`D`	MS Word	Apply double-underline formatting.
`Ctrl`+`I`	MS Word	Apply italic formatting to text.
`Ctrl`+`I`	MS Word	Apply italic formatting.
`Ctrl`+`1`	MS Word	Apply single spacing to the paragraph.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`K`	MS Word	Apply small caps formatting.
`Ctrl`+`=`	MS Word	Apply subscript formatting.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`+`	MS Word	Apply superscript formatting.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`1`	MS Word	Apply the Heading 1 style.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`2`	MS Word	Apply the Heading 2 style.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`3`	MS Word	Apply the Heading 3 style.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`N`	MS Word	Apply the Normal style.
`Ctrl`+`U`	MS Word	Apply underline formatting to text.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`W`	MS Word	Apply underline formatting to the words, but not the spaces.
`Ctrl`+`U`	MS Word	Apply underline formatting.
`Ctrl`+`&`then`a`or`A`	MS Word	æ, Æ
`Ctrl`+`,`then`c`or`C`	MS Word	ç, Ç
`Esc`	MS Word	Cancel a command.
`Ctrl`+`E`	MS Word	Center the paragraph.
`Ctrl`+`E`	MS Word	Center the text.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Q`	MS Word	Change the selected text to the Symbol font.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`A`	MS Word	Change the text to all upper case.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`F12`then`Space`	MS Word	Choose citation options.
`Ctrl`+`W`	MS Word	Close the document.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`C`	MS Word	Close the Reviewing Pane.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`-`	MS Word	Collapse the text under a heading.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`R`	MS Word	Copy the header or footer used in the previous section of the document.
`Shift`+`F2`thenmove the cursor to the destinationthenandthenpress Enter	MS Word	Copy the selected content to a specific location.
`Ctrl`+`C`	MS Word	Copy the selected content to the Clipboard.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`C`	MS Word	Copy the selected formatting.
`Ctrl`+`T`	MS Word	Create a hanging indent.
`Ctrl`+`N`	MS Word	Create a new document.
`Ctrl`+`X`	MS Word	Cut the selected content to the Clipboard.
`Ctrl`+`F3`	MS Word	Cut the selected content to the Spike.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`5`thenandthenthe Tab key repeatedly	MS Word	Cycle through floating shapes, such as text boxes or images.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Z`	MS Word	Cycle through the locations of the four previous changes made to the document.
`Ctrl`+`[`	MS Word	Decrease the font size by 1 point.
`Ctrl`+`Shift+`	MS Word	Decrease the font size.
`Alt`+`F3`	MS Word	Define an AutoText block with the selected content.
`Ctrl`+`Backspace`	MS Word	Delete one word to the left.
`Ctrl`+`Del`	MS Word	Delete one word to the right.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`→`	MS Word	Demote a paragraph.

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Start with frequent tasks

Mind the platform

Practice in context

Related References