Tip: Some shortcut keys may behave differently by software version, operating system or keyboard layout.
About MS Word Shortcut Keys
MS Word shortcut keys are useful for typing assignments, office documents, resumes, reports and school projects. Instead of using toolbar buttons repeatedly, you can use keyboard shortcuts for bold, italic, underline, alignment, saving, printing and finding text.
Shortcut keys reduce mouse movement and make repeated tasks faster. They are useful for typing, editing, browsing, file management, coding, designing and office work.
MS Word Shortcut Keys List
| Shortcut Key | Use | Works In | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + B | Bold selected text | MS Word | Make a heading or important word bold. |
| Ctrl + I | Italic selected text | MS Word | Italicize selected text. |
| Ctrl + U | Underline selected text | MS Word | Underline important text. |
| Ctrl + L | Align text left | MS Word | Move paragraph alignment to left. |
| Ctrl + E | Center align text | MS Word | Center a title or heading. |
| Ctrl + R | Align text right | MS Word | Right align a paragraph. |
| Ctrl + J | Justify paragraph | MS Word | Make both left and right edges aligned. |
| Ctrl + K | Insert hyperlink | MS Word | Add a link to selected text. |
| Ctrl + Enter | Insert page break | MS Word | Start content on a new page. |
| Ctrl + Shift + > | Increase font size | MS Word | Make selected text larger. |
| Ctrl + Shift + < | Decrease font size | MS Word | Make selected text smaller. |
| Ctrl + 1 | Single line spacing | MS Word | Set selected paragraph to single spacing. |
| Ctrl + 2 | Double line spacing | MS Word | Set double spacing. |
| Ctrl + 5 | 1.5 line spacing | MS Word | Use one-and-half spacing. |
| F7 | Spelling and grammar check | MS Word | Check spelling errors. |
| Ctrl + Shift + L | Apply bullet list | MS Word | Create a bullet list quickly. |
How to remember these shortcuts
- Practice shortcuts inside real tasks instead of memorizing only lists.
- Group shortcuts by action: copy-paste, formatting, navigation, screenshots and search.
- Keep a small cheat sheet until the shortcuts become muscle memory.
- Use the search page whenever you forget a shortcut.
FAQs
Do these shortcuts work in every app?
No. Many shortcuts are common, but some are specific to Windows, Mac, browsers or individual software.
Which shortcuts should beginners learn first?
Beginners should start with copy, paste, cut, undo, save, print, find and select all.
What is the Mac alternative for Ctrl shortcuts?
Many Mac shortcuts use Command instead of Ctrl, such as Command + C for copy and Command + V for paste.