In this post you'll discover lots of different ways to navigate through your document, select text and edit text quickly in Word using both the mouse and keyboard shortcuts.
As a beginner you will probably use your mouse 90% of the time, but if you learn just one or two new techniques on the keyboard you won't have to keep switching between the keyboard and the mouse which will speed things up and it will stand you in good stead moving forwards.
It also means that you can use your laptop while you are on a crammed train!
1. Selecting text using the mouse
You can select different part of your document. Here is a small selection to get you started.
#1 Select a word using click-and-drag
1. Left-click anywhere in the middle of a word and keep your finger on the button.
2. Drag to the right. As soon as you go past the end of the current word, the whole word is selected.
3. Release the button.
#2 Select a phrase using click-and-drag
1. Left-click at the beginning of your selection and keep your finger on the button.
2. Drag to the end of your selection.
3. Release the button.
#3 Select a word
Double-left-click a word to select it.
#4 Select a sentence
Press and hold Shift and left-click anywhere in the sentence.Select a paragraph Triple-left-click anywhere in a paragraph to select it.
#5 Select a paragraph
Triple-left-click anywhere in a paragraph to select it.
#6 Select a line
1. Move the mouse pointer to the left margin next to the line you want to select.
2. Left-click to select the line.
#7 Select the whole document
1. Move the mouse pointer to the left margin.
2. Press and hold the Ctrl key.
3. Left-click to select the whole document.
2. Selecting text with keyboard shortcuts
#1 Select a letter
1. Position the cursor.
2. Press and hold the Shift key.
3. Press the → key (right-cursor).
#2 Select a word
1. Place the cursor at the beginning of the word or phrase.
2. Press and hold the Shift and Ctrl keys.
3. Press the → key (right cursor). The word is selected. Continue to press the cursor key to extend the selection.
#3 Select a phrase
1. Place the cursor at the beginning of the phrase.
2. Press and hold the Shift key.
3. Left-click at the end of the phrase.
#4 Select the whole document
Press Ctrl + A.
3. Navigating your document
You can use the scroll bars or your mouse wheel to move through a document, but there are other techniques you can use to navigate a document.
#1 Page through a document
Press the Page Up and Page Down buttons to move through the document one screenat a time.
#2 Go to a specific page
1. Press Ctrl + G to display the Go To dialog box.
2. Type in a page number.
3. Click Go To
4. Click Close
#3 Go to the beginning of the line
Press Home
#4 Go to the end of the line
Press End
#5 Go to the top of the document
Press Ctrl + Home
#6 Go to the bottom of the document
Press Ctrl + End
#7 Go to the next or previous word
1. Position the cursor.
2. Press and hold the Ctrl key.
3. Press the → or ← key.
#8 Go to the next or previous paragraph
1. Position the cursor.
2. Press and hold the Ctrl key.
3. Press the ↓ or ↑ key.
4. Delete vs Backspace
5. Visual Separators
Type 3 dashes ( --- ) to display a single line separator.
Type 3 equals signs ( === ) to display a double line separator
Type 3 hashes ( ### ) to display a triple line separator
Type 3 underscores ( ___ ) to display a thick separator
Type 3 asterisks ( *** ) to display a dotted line separator
Type 3 tildas ( ~~~ ) to display a wavy line separator. The tilda is found by pressing the Shift key and the key below the Esc key in the top-left corner of the keyboard.
6. All the key points again
7. What Next?
I hope you found plenty of value in this post. I'd love to hear your biggest takeaway in the comments below together with any questions you may have.
Have a fantastic day.
About the author
Jason Morrell
Jason Morrell is a professional trainer, consultant and course creator who lives on the glorious Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.
He helps people of all levels unleash and leverage the power contained within Microsoft Office by delivering training, troubleshooting services and taking on client projects. He loves to simplify tricky concepts and provide helpful, proven, actionable advice that can be implemented for quick results.
Purely for amusement he sometimes talks about himself in the third person.
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