Macintosh OS X: Keyboard Shortcuts, UWEC

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Macintosh OS X
Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts make quick navigation in your Word document possible. Instead of using the mouse you can press keys to perform
the same actions. There are keyboard shortcuts for virtually every navigational and managing option in Word. This document will
provide instructions on the most useful shortcuts.
File Operations
Edit Operations
Selecting Text
Undo and Redo Operations
Current File Navigation
File Navigation
Additional Keyboard Shortcuts

File Operations
Some of the most common operations you do in Word include opening, closing, saving, and printing. Because these operations are
repeated often, using the keyboard shortcuts can simplify and speed up the process. The following table provides the action and the
shortcut key command to perform each action.
Action

Key Command

To open a file

[command] + [O]

To close a file

[command] + [W]

To save a file

[command] + [S]

To print a file

[command] + [P]

To open a new document

[command] + [N]

Edit Operations
Editing operations such as cut, copy, paste, and check spelling are also used frequently. You save a lot of time using the shortcut key
operations because you are not spending time searching the file or quick menus for these editing options.
Action

Key Command

Cut

[command] + [X]

Copy

[command] + [C]

Paste

[command] + [V]

Check spelling

[F7]

Bold text

[command] + [B]

Italicize text

[command] + [I]

Remove text formatting

[control] + [spacebar]

Selecting Text
In order to format text, it must be selected. You can navigate around the document and select appropriate text with shortcut keys.
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These key commands will allow you to select as much or as little of the text as you need.
Action

Key Command

Select all

[command] + [A]

Select one character to the right

[shift] + [right arrow]

Select one character to the left

[shift] + [left arrow]

Select to the beginning of a word

[shift] + [option] + [left arrow]

Select to the end of a word

[shift] +[option] + [right arrow]

Select to the end of the line

[shift] + [end]

Select to the beginning of the line

[shift] + [home]

Select one line down

[shift] + [down arrow]

Select one line up

[shift] + [up arrow]

Select to the end of the paragraph

[command] + [shift] + [down arrow]

Select to the beginning of the paragraph

[command] + [shift] + [up arrow]

Select one screen down

[shift] + [page down]

Select one screen up

[shift] + [page up]

Select to the beginning of the document

[command] + [shift] + [home]

Select to the end of the document

[command] + [shift] + [end]

Undo and Redo Options

When making quick adjustments to your document, you may want to undo or redo the most recent action performed. These keyboard
shortcuts can save you time by not having to scroll through the Edit menu, or Standard toolbar to perform the action.
Action

Key Command

To undo previous action

[command] + [Z]

To redo previous action

[command] + [Y]

To cancel any action

[esc]

Current File Navigation

Depending on your editing style, you may find navigating through your currently opened document via keyboard shortcuts to be the
fastest and easiest. When using key commands for navigation, the direction given can be very specific. For example, if you wanted to
be at the top of the next page, you can do so by pressing two keys instead of scrolling with the mouse
Action

Key Command

Move one character to the left

[left arrow]

Move one character to the right

[right arrow]

Move one word to the left

[option] + [left arrow]

Move one word to the right

[option] + [right arrow]

Move one paragraph up

[option] + [up arrow]

Move one paragraph down

[option] + [down arrow]

Move up one line

[up arrow]

Move down one line

[down arrow]

Move to the end of one line

[end]

Move to the beginning of one line

[home]

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Move one screen up

[page up]

Move one screen down

[page down]

Move to the top of the next page

[command] + [page down]

Move to the top of the previous page

[command] + [page up]

Move to the end of the document

[command] + [end]

Move to the beginning of the document

[command] + [home]

Move to the next document window

[command] + [F6]

Move to the previous document window

[command] + [shift] + [F6]

File Navigation
Using keyboard shortcuts, you can open and navigate through other files from the Open File dialog box .
1. To open a file, press [command] + [O]
The Open File dialog box appears.
2. To get inside major sections of the dialog box (e.g., text boxes, pull down menus, and buttons), press [tab]
3. Navigate through those sections pressing the [left], [right], [up], or [down] arrow keys
4. To open files or set appropriate option, press [return]
5. To cancel operations and close dialog boxes, press [esc]

Additional Keyboard Shortcuts

This document discusses a few of the most helpful keyboard shortcuts. However, there are many other keyboard shortcuts available.
Word offers keyboard shortcuts for virtually all operations. You can also record and create your own keyboard operation as well. To find
out more information about keyboard shortcuts, use the Word Help option.
1. From the Help menu, select Word Help
2. In the What are you searching for? text box, type Keyboard Shortcuts
3. Press [return]
A list of related topics appears.
4. Select the appropriate keyboard shortcut related option

LTS Documentation OL 1105 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire WI 54702-4004

Questions/Comments: onlinehelp@uwec.edu
Updated: February 8, 2011
Copyright 1995-2011 UW-Eau Claire and the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System

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