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.

Microsoft Word 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.

Microsoft Word Revea Formatting task pane.

Try them out. There are more Word shortcuts but these are the most useful for formatting.

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More resources

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Summary
21 Microsoft Word Shortcuts for Faster Formatting
Article Name
21 Microsoft Word Shortcuts for Faster Formatting
Description
Microsoft Word shortcuts can save you a lot of time. You can use formatting shortcuts in Word to apply and remove formatting quickly and easily.
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Avantix Learning

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