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
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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.
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More resources
21 Microsoft Word Shortcuts for Faster Formatting
How to Create, Save, Use and Edit Templates in Microsoft Word
How to Keep Text Together in Microsoft Word (Words, Lines or Paragraphs)
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