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
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`T`	MS Word	Insert a trademark symbol (™).
`Alt`+`N`then`W`	MS Word	Insert a WordArt graphic.
The first few characters of the AutoText blockthenandthenpress Enter when the ScreenTip appears.	MS Word	Insert an AutoText block.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`.`	MS Word	Insert an ellipsis (…).
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`on the numeric keypad`	MS Word	Insert an em dash (—).
`Ctrl`+`F9`	MS Word	Insert an empty field.
`Ctrl`+`on the numeric keypad`	MS Word	Insert an en dash (–).
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`D`	MS Word	Insert an endnote.
`Ctrl`+`-`	MS Word	Insert an optional hyphen.
`Alt`+`on the numeric keypad`	MS Word	Insert the ANSI character for the specified ANSI (decimal) character code. For example, to insert the euro currency symbol, hold down Alt and press 0128 on the numeric keypad.
The character codethenthen press Alt+`X`	MS Word	Insert the Unicode character for the specified Unicode (hexadecimal) character code. For example, to insert the euro currency symbol (€), type 20AC, and then hold down Alt and press X.
`Ctrl`+`J`	MS Word	Justify the paragraph.
`Ctrl`+`F11`	MS Word	Lock a field.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`I`	MS Word	Mark a table of authorities entry (citation).
`Alt`+`Shift`+`O`	MS Word	Mark a table of contents entry.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`X`	MS Word	Mark an index entry.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`N`	MS Word	Merge a document.
`Arrow Keys`	MS Word	Move among the items on the ribbon.
`Arrow Keys`	MS Word	Move around the preview page when zoomed in.
`Ctrl`+`←`or`→`	MS Word	Move between command groupings on the ribbon.
`PgUp`or`PgDn`	MS Word	Move by one preview page when zoomed out.
`PgDn`	MS Word	Move the cursor by scrolling the document view down by one screen.
`PgUp`	MS Word	Move the cursor by scrolling the document view up by one screen.
`Ctrl`+`↓`	MS Word	Move the cursor down by one paragraph.
`Ctrl`+`←`	MS Word	Move the cursor one word to the left.
`Ctrl`+`→`	MS Word	Move the cursor one word to the right.
`Home`	MS Word	Move the cursor to the beginning of the current line.
`Ctrl`+`Home`	MS Word	Move the cursor to the beginning of the document.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`PgDn`	MS Word	Move the cursor to the bottom of the screen.
`End`	MS Word	Move the cursor to the end of the current line.
`Ctrl`+`End`	MS Word	Move the cursor to the end of the document.
`Shift`+`F5`thenimmediately after opening the document.	MS Word	Move the cursor to the location of the last revision made before the document was last closed.
`Shift`+`F5`	MS Word	Move the cursor to the location of the previous revision.
`Ctrl`+`PgDn`	MS Word	Move the cursor to the top of the next page.
`Ctrl`+`PgUp`	MS Word	Move the cursor to the top of the previous page.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`PgUp`	MS Word	Move the cursor to the top of the screen.
`Ctrl`+`↑`	MS Word	Move the cursor up by one paragraph.
Tab keyor`Shift`+`Tab`	MS Word	Move the focus to commands on the ribbon.
`F2`thenmove the cursor to the destinationthenandthenpress Enter	MS Word	Move the selected content to a specific location.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`↓`	MS Word	Move the selected paragraphs down.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`↑`	MS Word	Move the selected paragraphs up.
`Home`	MS Word	Move to the beginning of the document.
`End`	MS Word	Move to the end of the document.
`Ctrl`+`Home`	MS Word	Move to the first preview page when zoomed out.
`Ctrl`+`End`	MS Word	Move to the last preview page when zoomed out.
`Ctrl`+`PgDn`	MS Word	Move to the next object of the defined type.
`Ctrl`+`PgUp`	MS Word	Move to the previous object of the defined type.
`←`	MS Word	Move to the submenu when a main menu is open or selected.
`Alt`+`Q`thenthen enter the search term.	MS Word	Move to the Tell Me or Search field on the Ribbon to search for assistance or Help content.
`Ctrl`+`&`then`o`or`O`	MS Word	œ, Œ

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Start with frequent tasks

Mind the platform

Practice in context

Related References