Do you want to work faster in Microsoft Word? Learning keyboard shortcuts can save time, improve productivity, and make document editing much easier.
Instead of clicking through different menus, you can use simple key combinations to format text, edit documents, save files, and navigate pages quickly.
In this guide, you’ll learn the most useful Microsoft Word shortcut keys, including Ctrl + A to Ctrl + Z, along with essential formatting and document-management shortcuts.
1. Microsoft Word Shortcut Keys A to Z
Here is an alphabetical list of commonly used Microsoft Word keyboard shortcuts.
| Letter | Shortcut Key | Function |
|---|---|---|
| A | Ctrl + A | Select all text |
| B | Ctrl + B | Make text bold |
| C | Ctrl + C | Copy selected text |
| D | Ctrl + D | Open the Font dialog box |
| E | Ctrl + E | Center-align text |
| F | Ctrl + F | Find text in a document |
| G | Ctrl + G | Go to a specific page or location |
| H | Ctrl + H | Find and replace text |
| I | Ctrl + I | Italicize text |
| J | Ctrl + J | Justify paragraph alignment |
| K | Ctrl + K | Insert a hyperlink |
| L | Ctrl + L | Align text to the left |
| M | Ctrl + M | Increase paragraph indentation |
| N | Ctrl + N | Create a new document |
| O | Ctrl + O | Open a document |
| P | Ctrl + P | Print a document |
| Q | Ctrl + Q | Remove direct paragraph formatting |
| R | Ctrl + R | Align text to the right |
| S | Ctrl + S | Save a document |
| T | Ctrl + T | Create a hanging indent |
| U | Ctrl + U | Underline text |
| V | Ctrl + V | Paste copied or cut content |
| W | Ctrl + W | Close the current document |
| X | Ctrl + X | Cut selected text |
| Y | Ctrl + Y | Redo or repeat an action |
| Z | Ctrl + Z | Undo the last action |
Note: These shortcuts generally apply to Microsoft Word on Windows. Some shortcuts may behave differently depending on your Word version, keyboard layout, or editing context.
2. Important Microsoft Word Formatting Shortcuts
Formatting shortcuts help you make documents look professional without searching through the ribbon menus.
| Shortcut Key | Function |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + Shift + > | Increase font size |
| Ctrl + Shift + < | Decrease font size |
| Ctrl + ] | Increase font size by one point |
| Ctrl + [ | Decrease font size by one point |
| Ctrl + Shift + C | Copy text formatting |
| Ctrl + Shift + V | Apply copied formatting |
| Ctrl + Shift + L | Apply the default bullet-list style |
| Ctrl + 1 | Apply single line spacing |
| Ctrl + 2 | Apply double line spacing |
| Ctrl + 5 | Apply 1.5 line spacing |
| Ctrl + E | Center-align a paragraph |
| Ctrl + J | Justify a paragraph |
3. Essential Document Editing Shortcuts
Use these shortcuts to edit documents quickly and efficiently.
| Shortcut Key | Function |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + Backspace | Delete the previous word |
| Ctrl + Delete | Delete the next word |
| Ctrl + Left Arrow | Move the cursor one word left |
| Ctrl + Right Arrow | Move the cursor one word right |
| Home | Move to the beginning of the line |
| End | Move to the end of the line |
| Ctrl + Home | Move to the beginning of the document |
| Ctrl + End | Move to the end of the document |
| Shift + Arrow Key | Select text character by character or line by line |
| Ctrl + Shift + Left Arrow | Select the previous word |
| Ctrl + Shift + Right Arrow | Select the next word |
| F7 | Check spelling and grammar, depending on your Word version and settings |
4. Useful File Management Shortcuts
These keyboard shortcuts make it easier to create, save, print, and manage documents.
| Shortcut Key | Function |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + N | Create a new document |
| Ctrl + O | Open an existing document |
| Ctrl + S | Save changes |
| F12 | Open the Save As dialog box in Word for Windows |
| Ctrl + P | Open print settings |
| Ctrl + W | Close the current document |
| Ctrl + F4 | Close the current document window |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo an action |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo an action |
5. Table and Navigation Shortcuts
When working with tables or long documents, these shortcuts can save valuable time.
| Shortcut Key | Function |
|---|---|
| Tab | Move to the next table cell |
| Shift + Tab | Move to the previous table cell |
| Alt + Home | Move to the first cell in the current row |
| Alt + End | Move to the last cell in the current row |
| Ctrl + F | Search for text |
| Ctrl + G | Navigate to a page or location |
| Ctrl + Home | Jump to the beginning of the document |
| Ctrl + End | Jump to the end of the document |
| Ctrl + Enter | Insert a page break |
6. Frequently Asked Questions
What is the shortcut key for Select All in MS Word?
Press Ctrl + A to select all content in the current document or editing area.
What is the shortcut key for Save in MS Word?
Press Ctrl + S to save your document.
What is the shortcut key for Bold?
Press Ctrl + B to make selected text bold.
What is the shortcut key for Copy and Paste?
Press Ctrl + C to copy selected content and Ctrl + V to paste it.
What is the shortcut key for Undo?
Press Ctrl + Z to undo the last action.
What is the shortcut key for Find and Replace?
Press Ctrl + H to open the Find and Replace feature.
What is the shortcut key for creating a new document?
Press Ctrl + N to create a new Word document.
Conclusion
Microsoft Word keyboard shortcuts are simple but powerful tools that can help students, teachers, office workers, and professionals work more efficiently.
Start by learning the most frequently used shortcuts, such as Ctrl + A, Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V, Ctrl + S, Ctrl + B, and Ctrl + Z. As you become more comfortable, practise the remaining shortcuts to improve your speed and productivity.
Save this A–Z shortcut guide for future reference and share it with anyone who wants to learn Microsoft Word more effectively!
