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
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 Indent the Second Line of a Paragraph in Word (3 Ways)
You can indent the second line of a paragraph in Microsoft Word using the Ruler, the Paragraph dialog box or a keyboard shortcut. You can indent or outdent the second line of a paragraph.
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 Insert a Watermark in Word (like DRAFT)
You can insert a watermark in the background of one or more pages in a Microsoft Word document. Common watermarks are text such as DRAFT or CONFIDENTIAL but you can also add a picture watermark.
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
