Increase Your Productivity with These Useful Shortcuts

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated July 30, 2020

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

Here are 10 extremely useful shortcuts (in Word for Windows). I have not included the common ones like copy and paste. Most of these include the Ctrl key so press Ctrl plus the letter indicated

Recommended article:  21 Shortcuts for Faster Formatting in Your Microsoft Word Documents 

1. Select all

This is probably the most useful shortcut for most people. Ctrl + A will select all text in a Microsoft Word document. It also works in Excel and other Office programs.

2. Go to the beginning of the document

Ctrl + Home will take you to the beginning of the document.

3. Go to the end of the document

Ctrl + End will take you to the end of the document.

4. Quickly select a word

To quickly select a word, double-click in it or position the cursor at the beginning of the word and press Ctrl + Shift + right arrow.

5. Quickly select a paragraph

To quickly select a paragraph, triple-click in it or position the cursor at the beginning of the paragraph and press Ctrl + Shift + down arrow.

6. Display the Replace dialog box

To display the Replace dialog box, press Ctrl + H.

Microsoft Word Replace dialog box.

7. Display the Font dialog box (formerly the Character dialog box)

To display the font dialog box, press Ctrl + D.

Microsoft Word Font dial;og box.

8. Increase font size

Select the text and press Ctrl + Shift + > to increase font size by standard increments.

9. Decrease font size

Select the text and press Ctrl + Shift + < to decrease font size by standard increments.

10. Close the current document

To close the current document, press Ctrl + W.

There are certainly many more shortcuts such as Ctrl + P for print which apply to all Microsoft Office programs, but these are shortcuts I have always found to be particularly useful.

This article was first published on June 21, 2014 and has been updated for clarity and content.

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Summary
10 Timesaving Microsoft Word Shortcuts
Article Name
10 Timesaving Microsoft Word Shortcuts
Description
Try these useful shortcuts in Microsoft Word. A few of them also work in other Office programs.
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Avantix Learning

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