Today, more than ever, efficiency is the name of the game in every role and workplace. We are all trying to do more work in less time. Keyboard shortcuts can be an integral part of attaining that goal. Once you become familiar with keyboard shortcuts, they can become second-nature and save you time on an ongoing basis.
The following shortcuts are available for use across all/most Microsoft Office applications. Below is a list of the most common and useful shortcuts. Remember, practice makes perfect!
| Ctrl + a | Select all document contents |
| Ctrl + b | Turn “bold” on or off |
| Ctrl + c | Copy the selected information |
| Ctrl + d | Duplicate a selected graphic image |
| Ctrl + i | Turn “italics” on or off |
| Ctrl + n | Create a new document |
| Ctrl + o | Open an existing file |
| Ctrl + p | Print a document |
| Ctrl + s | Save a document |
| Ctrl + u | Turn “underline” on or off |
| Ctrl + v | Paste selection at insertion point |
| Ctrl + w | Close current document/window |
| Ctrl + x | Cut selected information |
| Ctrl + y | Redo what was undone |
| Ctrl + z | Undo last change |
| Ctrl + F1 | Expand/Collapse ribbon |
| Ctrl + Enter | Insert page break |
| Ctrl + Home | Go to the very start of the document |
| Ctrl + End | Go to the very end of the document |
| Ctrl + Page Up | Go to the top of the page |
| Ctrl + Page Down | Go to the end of the page |
| Home | Go to the start of a line |
| End | Go to the end of the line |
| F1 | Help |
| F4 | Repeat last command (make absolute in Excel) |
| F5 | Open the find and replace dialog box |
| F12 | Save as |
| Shift + Any Arrow Key | Select text in that direction |
As of this writing: If you are planning to take the certification test please note that you cannot use keyboard shortcuts on the exam(s).
By John Dukarski-French