By Rachel Guise, PPS Editor
What is a keyboard shortcut?
Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of keys that initiate a command in the program that you’re using. The following lists are key combinations that can be used in Microsoft programs as well as most search engines. TurboFuture provides lists of the most used keyboard shortcuts as well as some that are not commonly used for all platforms.
As a PC user, Ctrl + S is my most used keyboard shortcut for all three programs. When working on several projects a day, clicking Ctrl + S while making edits becomes second nature and ensures none of my changes are lost. Another shortcut that I frequently use is Ctrl + A. This is helpful in Word when you have global edits such as changing the font or font size in a document. You can also use this shortcut in Excel to change font formatting. Ctrl + Z is another often used shortcut because, hey, I make mistakes.
Microsoft Word
The following is a list of PC keyboard shortcuts that work in Microsoft Word. HowtoGeek breaks down keyboard shortcuts by their functions.
Ctrl + A = Select all text in document
Ctrl + B = Bold highlighted text
Ctrl + C = Copy highlighted text
Ctrl + D = Opens Font preferences box
Ctrl + E = Align highlighted text center
Ctrl + Enter = Insert new page within current document
Ctrl + F = Opens Find tool (opens the Navigation pane)
Ctrl + G = Opens Go to tool (in the Navigation pane)
Ctrl + H = Opens Replace tool (in the Navigation pane)
Ctrl + I = Italic highlighted text
Ctrl + J = Justify highlighted text
Ctrl + K = Opens Insert Hyperlink box
Ctrl + L = Align highlighted text left
Ctrl + M = Inserts paragraph indent
Ctrl + N = Opens new document
Ctrl + O = Opens Open file window
Ctrl + P = Opens Print window
Ctrl + R = Align highlighted text left or right
Ctrl + S = Saves the document as it is currently named
Ctrl + U = Underline highlighted text
Ctrl + V = Paste copied or cut text
Ctrl + W = Close document
Ctrl + X = Cut (text must be selected to use this shortcut)
Ctrl + Y = Redo last action
Ctrl + Z = Undo last action
Ctrl + + = Set highlighted text subscript
F1 = Opens the Help windowpane
F7 = Spellcheck (opens the Editor pane to check spelling and grammar)
F12 = Save as (opens the Save As window, so that the document can be saved using a new name or in a new location)
Shift + arrow keys = Select multiple letters
Ctrl + arrow keys = Select multiple words
MAC (also known as Apple) computers use many of the same shortcut keys as PCs. Note that Ctrl on a PC keyboard and control on a MAC keyboard do not always serve the same function. Where you would use Ctrl on a PC, you’ll use the ⌘ command key on a MAC. Microsoft provides a complete list of shortcuts for MAC users, but here is a list of the most often used shortcuts.
⌘ + A = Select all
⌘ + B = Bold
⌘ + C or Shift + F2 = Copy selected text
⌘ + F = Find
⌘ + H = Hide windows
⌘ + I = Italic
⌘ + N = Opens new document or window
⌘ + O = Open
⌘ + P = Print
⌘ + Q = Quit
⌘ + S = Save
⌘ + T = Switch between open apps
⌘ + U = Underline
⌘ + V = Paste copied or cut text
⌘ + X = Cut
⌘ + Z = Undo last action
⌘ + + = Set subscript
Option + ⌘ + G = Opens Go to box
Option + ⌘ + L = Opens Spelling and Grammar box
Control + F = Find
Microsoft Excel
Several of the PC keyboard shortcuts used in Word also apply to Excel (e.g., Ctrl + S).
Ctrl + D = Delete cell text
Ctrl + F = Find
Ctrl + G = Opens Go to box
Ctrl + H = Opens Replace box
Ctrl + K = Opens Insert Hyperlink box
Ctrl + L = Create table
Ctrl + N = Opens new workbook
Ctrl + O = Opens selected workbook
Ctrl + W = Closes workbook
Ctrl + Y = Redo last action
Ctrl + Z = Undo last action
Ctrl + ; = Insert the current date
Ctrl + : = Insert the current time
F7 = Spellcheck
Alt + F = Opens selected File
Likewise, Excel keyboard shortcuts are similar for MAC users as well.
⌘ + A = Select all
⌘ + C = Copy
⌘ + P = Opens Print window
⌘ + Q = Quit
⌘ + S = Save
⌘ + U = Underline
⌘ + V = Paste copied or cut text
⌘ + Z = Undo last action
Some, however, are different from Word or are specific to Excel.
Option + G = Opens Go to box
F7 = Opens Check Spelling and Grammar box
Control + Shift = Insert cell
⌘ + 1 = Format Cells box
Shift + F3 = Display Formula Builder
Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Acrobat’s click for Website provides instructions to use shortcuts while working in PDFs. The website uses tables to organize which shortcuts work with different types of tools. It includes a column for PC functions as well as MAC. Like Excel, some of the Word keyboard shortcuts work in Adobe.
Ctrl/⌘ + A = Select all
Ctrl/⌘ + C = Copy
Ctrl/⌘ + N = New
Ctrl/⌘ + S = Save
Ctrl/⌘ + Z = Undo
Adobe also provides instructions to use single-key shortcuts while working in PDFs. Many are the same for PC and MAC.
C = Crop tool
H = Hand tool
S = Stick Note tool
U = Highlighting tool
X = Textbox tool
Ctrl/⌘ + equal sign = Zoom in
Ctrl/⌘ + hyphen = Zoom out
Ctrl/⌘ + F4 = Close file