Use Shortcuts to Quickly Select Text in PowerPoint
by Avantix Learning Team | Updated January 29, 2021
Applies to: Microsoft® PowerPoint® 2013, 2016, 2019 and 365 (Windows)
The following are 15 shortcuts you can use in PowerPoint to select text in shapes, text boxes, placeholders and in the Outline Pane.
Recommended article: How to Reduce the Size of PowerPoint Files (10 Ways to Compress Your PowerPoint Decks)
Do you want to learn more about PowerPoint? Check out our virtual classroom or live classroom PowerPoint courses >
1. Select a block of text
Click in the text and then Shift-click in the text where you want to end the selection.
2. Select a word
Click in the text and then double-click a word.
3. Select a paragraph
Click in the text and them triple-click a paragraph.
4. Select all text in an object
Click in the text and then press Ctrl + A. If you want to select a text placeholder or text box, click its edge.
5. Select all text in the Outline Pane
Click in the Outline Pane and press Ctrl + A.
6. Select one line down
Click in a line of text and press Ctrl + down arrow.
7. Select one line up
Click in a line of text and press Ctrl + up arrow..
8. Select one paragraph down
Click in a line of text and press Ctrl + Shift + down arrow.
9. Select one paragraph up
Click in a line of text and press Ctrl + Shift + up arrow.
10. Select one character to the right
Click n the text and press Shift + right arrow.
11. Select one character to the left
Click in the text and press Shift + left arrow.
12. Select one word to the right
Click in the text and press Ctrl + Shift + right arrow.
13. Select one word to the left
Click in the text and press Ctrl + Shift + left arrow.
14. Select to the end of the text
Click in the text and press Ctrl + Shift + End.
15. Select to the beginning of the text
Click in the text and press Ctrl + Shift + Home.
If you are having difficulty selecting text in Normal View, the text may have been entered in Slide Master View. To go to Slide Master View, click the View tab in the Ribbon and select Slide Master.in the Master Views group
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 Insert Video in PowerPoint (from a File on Your PC or a Shared Drive)
PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts to Play and Control Video During a Slide Show
A Beginner's Guide to Video Formats in PowerPoint
Related courses
Microsoft PowerPoint: Intermediate / Advanced
Microsoft PowerPoint: Design for Non-Designers
Microsoft PowerPoint: Animations Bootcamp
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 2023 Avantix® Learning
You may also like
How to Insert or Type E with an Accent Mark in PowerPoint (È, É, Ê, Ë, è, é, ê, or ë)
You can insert or type e with an accent mark in PowerPoint using built-in tools or keyboard shortcuts (including Alt code shortcuts). The letter e can be inserted with an accent in both upper or lower case in text boxes or placeholders on slides, the slide master or layouts. The following are common accents in upper or lower case – È, É, Ê, Ë, è, é, ê, or ë.
How to Fade a Picture or Part of a Picture in PowerPoint (Using a Gradient)
You can fade a picture in PowerPoint by drawing a rectangle shape on top of the picture and then filling the rectangle with a gradient from opaque to transparent. This technique is often used to fade an image into the background of a slide. Since the rectangle is placed on top of the image and then text may be placed on top of the rectangle, you may need to reorder the objects.
How to Lock an Image, Shape or Other Object in PowerPoint
You can now lock an image, shape or other object in PowerPoint. Objects can be locked in Normal View or Slide Master View. Only PowerPoint 365 users can lock objects to prevent moving and resizing. This is helpful if you want to select and move other objects on the slide or prevent others from moving or resizing an object. You can lock items using the context menu or the Selection Pane.
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
