Quickly Select Text in Word Documents Using a Mouse or Keyboard Shortcuts

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated May 17, 2021

Applies to: Microsoft® Word® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 or 365 (Windows)

You can use several keyboard or mouse shortcuts in Microsoft Word to select characters, words, lines, paragraphs and blocks of text in your documents.

Recommended article: 10 Microsoft Word Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for Selecting in Tables

Do you want to learn more about Microsoft Word? Check out our virtual classroom or live classroom Word courses >

1. Select an entire document

Click in the document and then press Ctrl + A to select the entire document.

2. Select a word

To select a word, double-click the word.

3. Select a sentence

To select a sentence, Ctrl + click in the sentence.

4. Select a line using the invisible selection bar

To select a line using the invisible selection bar, move the pointer into the area to the left of the line and click (the pointer should turn into a right-pointing arrow).

5. Select a paragraph

To select a paragraph, triple-click in the paragraph.

6. Select a paragraph using the invisible selection bar

To select a paragraph using the invisible selection bar, move the pointer into the area to the left of the paragraph and double-click (the pointer should turn into a right-pointing arrow).

7. Select from the cursor to the end or beginning of the line

Press Shift + End to select from the cursor to the end of the line. If you press Shift + Home, Word will select from the cursor to the beginning of the line.

8. Select by word using arrow keys

To select by word, position the cursor where you want to start the selection and then press Ctrl + Shift + right arrow or Ctrl + Shift + left arrow.

9. Select by line using arrow keys

To select by line, position the cursor where you want to start the selection and then press Shift + down arrow or Shift + up arrow.

10. Select by paragraph using arrow keys

To select by paragraph, position the cursor where you want to start the selection and then press Ctrl + Shift + down arrow or Ctrl + Shift + up arrow.

11. Select by character using arrow keys

To select by character, position the cursor where you want to start the selection and then press Shift + right arrow or Shift + left arrow.

12. Select blocks of text by Shift-clicking

To select text blocks, position the cursor where you want to start the selection and then move or scroll to the location where you want to end the selection and Shift-click.

13. Select by screen

To select by screen, position the cursor where you want to start the selection and then press Ctrl + Shift + PgUp or Ctrl + Shift + PgDown.

14. Select vertically

To select vertically in a document, press Alt and drag up or down.

You can save lots of time in Word using shortcuts for selecting text.

Subscribe to get more articles like this one

Did you find this article helpful? If you would like to receive new articles, join our email list.

More resources

How to Clear Formatting in Word (with Shortcuts)

21 Microsoft Word Shortcuts for Faster Formatting

How to Create, Save, Use and Edit Templates in Microsoft Word

How to Extract All Pictures from a Microsoft Word Document (or One or Two)

10+ Great Microsoft Word Navigation Shortcuts for Moving Around Quickly in Your Documents

Related courses

Microsoft Word: Intermediate / Advanced

Microsoft Excel: Intermediate / Advanced

Microsoft PowerPoint: Intermediate / Advanced

Microsoft Word: Long Documents Master Class

Microsoft Word: Styles, Templates and Tables of Contents

Microsoft Word: Designing Dynamic Word Documents Using Fields

VIEW MORE COURSES >

Our instructor-led courses are delivered in virtual classroom format or at our downtown Toronto location at 18 King Street East, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (some in-person classroom courses may also be delivered at an alternate downtown Toronto location). Contact us at info@avantixlearning.ca if you'd like to arrange custom instructor-led virtual classroom or onsite training on a date that's convenient for you.

Copyright 2024 Avantix® Learning

You may also like

10 Word Shortcuts to Select Text Using a Keyboard

10 Word Shortcuts to Select Text Using a Keyboard

You can use several shortcuts in Word to select text in your documents using only your keyboard. When you select text, it will typically be highlighted in grey. After you select text, you can cut, copy, or delete the selected text or apply character or paragraph formatting.

How to Generate Random Text in Word

How to Generate Random Text in Word

If you are creating a Microsoft Word document, template or mockup and you want to create placeholder text, you can generate random text using the built-in RAND function or LOREM function (which generates Latin or Lorem ipsum text).

How to Center Text Vertically in a Word Table (and Fix Common Issues)

How to Center Text Vertically in a Word Table (and Fix Common Issues)

You can center or align text vertically in cells in a Word table using commands in the Table Design or Table Tools Design tab in the Ribbon. If the text doesn't seem to align correctly, there are several common issues that may be affecting the alignment including extra blank paragraphs, paragraph spacing and cell margins.

Microsoft, the Microsoft logo, Microsoft Office and related Microsoft applications and logos are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in Canada, US and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of the registered owners.

Avantix Learning |18 King Street East, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5C 1C4 | Contact us at info@avantixlearning.ca

Summary
14 Microsoft Word Shortcuts to Quickly Select Text (Words, Lines and Paragraphs)
Article Name
14 Microsoft Word Shortcuts to Quickly Select Text (Words, Lines and Paragraphs)
Description
You can use several keyboard or mouse shortcuts in Microsoft Word to select characters, words, lines, paragraphs and blocks of text in your documents.
Author
Publisher Name
Avantix Learning

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This