ABC’s of using the Control Key combinations in Microsoft Word
The mouse is a great tool for allowing ease of use on your computer. In complex programs like Word however, the keyboard is where additional productivity can be found. These key combinations will mean less menu hunting!
CTRL + A | – | Select all contents of the page |
CTRL + B | – | Bold highlighted selection |
CTRL + C | – | Copy selected text |
CTRL + D | – | Open the font preferences window |
CTRL + E | – | Aligns the line or selected text to the centre of the screen |
CTRL + F | – | Open find box |
CTRL + G | – | Displays the Go To dialog box |
CTRL + H | – | Displays the Replace dialog box |
CTRL + I | – | Italic highlighted selection |
CTRL + J | – | Aligns the selected text or line to justify the screen |
CTRL + K | – | Insert link |
CTRL + L | – | Aligns the line or selected text to the left of the screen |
CTRL + M | – | Indent the paragraph |
CTRL + N | – | Creates a new, blank document |
CTRL + O | – | Displays the Open dialog box to open or find a file |
CTRL + P | – | Open the print window |
CTRL + R | – | Aligns the line or selected text to the right of the screen |
CTRL + S | – | Save the open document |
CTRL + T | – | Create a hanging indent |
CTRL + U | – | Underline the selected text |
CTRL + V | – | Paste |
CTRL + W | – | Closes the selected document window |
CTRL + X | – | Cut selected text |
CTRL + Y | – | Redo the last action performed |
CTRL + Z | – | Undo last action |
And, if you are a list maker, thenĀ you might find creating bulleted lists with the following key combination a real time saver!
CTRL + Shift + L Quickly create a bullet point.
ABC’s of using the Control Key combinations in Microsoft Excel – Happily, many are exactly the same as Word.
CTRL + A | – | Selects the worksheet |
CTRL + B | – | Applies or removes bold formatting |
CTRL + C | – | Copies the selected cells |
CTRL + D | – | Uses the Fill Down command to copy the contents and format of the topmost cell of a selected range into the cells below |
CTRL + E | – | Looks at data next to your selection and looks for a pattern to fill in values |
CTRL + F | – | Displays the Find and Replace dialog box, with the Find tab selected |
CTRL + G | – | Displays the Go To dialog box |
CTRL + H | – | Displays the Find and Replace dialog box, with the Replace tab selected |
CTRL + I | – | Applies or removes italic formatting |
CTRL + K | – | Displays the Insert Hyperlink dialog box for new hyperlinks or the Edit Hyperlink dialog box for selected existing hyperlinks |
CTRL + L | – | Displays the Create Table dialog box |
CTRL + N | – | Creates a new, blank workbook |
CTRL + O | – | Displays the Open dialog box to open or find a file |
CTRL + P | – | Displays the Print tab in Microsoft Office Backstage view |
CTRL + R | – | Uses the Fill Right command to copy the contents and format of the leftmost cell of a selected range into the cells to the right |
CTRL + S | – | Saves the active file with its current file name, location, and file format |
CTRL + T | – | Displays the Create Table dialog box |
CTRL + U | – | Applies or removes underlining |
CTRL + V | – | Inserts the contents of the Clipboard at the insertion point and replaces any selection. Available only after you have cut or copied an object, text, or cell contents |
CTRL + W | – | Closes the selected workbook window |
CTRL + X | – | Cuts the selected cells |
CTRL + Y | – | Repeats the last command or action, if possible |
CTRL + Z | – | Uses the Undo command to reverse the last command or to delete the last entry that you typed |
There are many, many more keyboard combinations in Word and Excel – if you remember when you were learning to read and write: it all started at the alphabet, so it is with the key-combinations.