Word 2016 has many keyboard commands to offer you. Whether you use a computer with a honking
105-key keyboard or a tablet with no keyboard, word processing remains a keyboard-bound activity.
The following tables show how to access Microsoft Word 2016’s commands and functions.
Here are all the options you can utilize for cursor movement.
Pressing This Key Moves the Insertion Pointer . . .
| Key | Description |
|---|---|
| ↑ | Up one line of text |
| ↓ | Down one line of text |
| ← | Left to the next character |
| → | Right to the next character |
| Ctrl+↑ | Up one paragraph |
| Ctrl+↓ | Down one paragraph |
| Ctrl+← | Left one word |
| Ctrl+→ | Right one word |
| PgUp | Up one screen |
| PgDn | Down one screen |
| Home | To start of current line |
| End | To end of current line |
| Ctrl+Home | To top of document |
| Ctrl+End | To bottom of document |
Here are some basic editing commands that are always helpful when word processing.
| Function | Key |
|---|---|
| Copy | Ctrl+C |
| Cut | Ctrl+X |
| Paste | Ctrl+V |
| Undo | Ctrl+Z |
Check out these useful commands when you need to do some text formatting.
| Function | Key |
|---|---|
| Bold | Ctrl+B |
| Italic | Ctrl+I |
| Double underline | Ctrl+Shift+D |
| Word underline | Ctrl+Shift+W |
| Small caps | Ctrl+Shift+K |
| Superscript | Ctrl+Shift++ |
| Subscript | Ctrl+= |
| Clear formatting | Ctrl+spacebar |
| Grow font | Ctrl+Shift+> |
| Shrink font | Ctrl+Shift+< |
| ALL CAPS | Ctrl+Shift+A |
| Font dialog box | Ctrl+D |
Here are some commands that will help simplify paragraph formatting.
| Function | Key |
|---|---|
| Center text | Ctrl+E |
| Left-align | Ctrl+L |
| Right-align | Ctrl+R |
| One-line spacing | Ctrl+1 |
| 1-1/2-line spacing | Ctrl+5 |
| Two-line spacing | Ctrl+2 |
| Justify | Ctrl+J |
| Indent | Ctrl+M |
| Unindent | Ctrl+Shift+M |
| Hanging indent | Ctrl+T |
| Un-hang indent | Ctrl+Shift+T |
And just for fun, here are some popular Word keyboard shortcuts.
| Function | Key |
|---|---|
| Help | F1 |
| Cancel | Escape |
| Go back | Shift+F5 |
| New document | Ctrl+N |
| Open screen | Ctrl+O |
| Ctrl+P | |
| Close document | Ctrl+W |
| Quick save | Ctrl+S |
| Repeat | Ctrl+Y |
| Find | Ctrl+F |
| Find and replace | Ctrl+H |
| Insert hard page break | Ctrl+Enter |
Haven’t found what you’re looking for? Check out these uncommon (but useful) Word keyboard shortcuts.
| Function | Key |
|---|---|
| Go to | F5 |
| Show/hide non-printing characters | Ctrl+Shift+8 |
| File screen | Alt+F |
| Styles task pane | Ctrl+Shift+Alt+S |
| Word count | Ctrl+Shift+G |
| Symbol font | Ctrl+Shift+Q |
| Print Layout view | Ctrl+Alt+P |
| Draft (normal) mode | Ctrl+Alt+N |
| Outline mode | Ctrl+Alt+O |
| Split window | Alt+Ctrl+S |
| Track revisions | Alt+Shift+E |
And finally, here are some commands that insert something.
| Function | Key |
|---|---|
| Today’s date | Alt+Shift+D |
| Current time | Alt+Shift+T |
| Paste special | Alt+Ctrl+V |
| Footnote | Alt+Ctrl+F |
| Endnote | Alt+Ctrl+D |
| Comment | Ctrl+Alt+M |