Try These Great Keyboard Shortcuts to Speed Up Formatting in Word
by Avantix Learning Team | Updated March 21, 2024
Applies to: Microsoft® Word® 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 365 (Windows)
You can save a lot of time using formatting shortcuts in Microsoft Word. Keep in mind that character formatting applies to one or more characters. Paragraph formatting applies to entire paragraphs.
Recommended article: 3 Strikethrough Shortcuts in Microsoft Word
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1. Display the Font dialog box
Select the text and press Ctrl + D to display the Font dialog box.
2. Remove formatting from the selected text
To remove character formatting from the selected text, press Ctrl + spacebar.
To remove paragraph formatting (such as alignment or line spacing) from the selected text, press Ctrl + Q.
3. Increase font size by standard increments
Select the text and press Ctrl + Shift + > to increase font size by standard increments.
4. Decrease font size by standard increments
Select the text and press Ctrl + Shift + < to decrease font size by standard increments.
5. Increase font size by point
Select the text and press Ctrl + ] to increase font size by point.
6. Decrease font size by point
Select the text and press Ctrl + [ to decrease font size by point.
7. Align left
Select the paragraph(s) and press Ctrl + L to align to the left.
8. Align right
Select the paragraph(s) and press Ctrl + R to align to the right.
9. Align centre
Select the paragraph(s) and press Ctrl + E to align centre.
10. Copy formatting
Select the text with the formatting you want to copy and press Ctrl + Shift + C to copy to the clipboard.
11. Paste formatting
Copy formatting and then select the text you wish to copy the formatting to and press Ctrl + Shift + V to paste the formatting.
12. Apply italics
Select the text and press Ctrl + I to apply italics.
13. Apply bold
Select the text and press Ctrl + B to apply bold.
14. Apply underline
Select the text and press Ctrl + U to apply single underline.
15. Apply/remove all caps
Select the text and press Ctrl + Shift + A to apply or remove all caps.
16. Apply single spacing
Select the paragraph(s) and press Ctrl + 1.
17. Apply double spacing
Select the paragraph(s) and press Ctrl + 2.
18. Apply 1.5 spacing
Select the paragraph(s) and press Ctrl + 5.
19. Apply bullets
Select the paragraphs and press Ctrl + Shift + L to apply the default bullets.
20. Increase/Decrease Indent
To increase indent of the selected paragraph, press Ctrl + M. To decrease indent, press Ctrl + Shift + M.
21. Display the Reveal Formatting task pane
To display the extremely useful Reveal Formatting task pane (which displays the formatting of the selected text), select the text and press Shift + F1.
Try them out. There are more Word shortcuts but these are the most useful for formatting.
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More resources
14+ Word Selection Shortcuts to Quickly Select Text
How to Superscript or Subscript in Word (with Shortcuts)
5 Ways to Insert the Division Symbol in Word (Type or Insert ÷)
3 Strikethrough Shortcuts in Excel to Cross Out Text or Values in Cells
How to Create Shortcuts in Word for Keep with Next and Keep Lines Together
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