Using Arrow Keys to Select Items in Word
Mandy Carter-Lowe

 

Recently I was helping a student on a computer. It was frustrating to watch her not use a basic shortcut that has become second nature to me when navigating a document. This student was very technology literate so it occurred to me that maybe some of our own Columbia State employees may not know this tip.

The student I was observing used only the arrow keys in moving her cursor. What I showed her was that these keys can be combined with the Control key (CTRL) to move through a document quicker.

 

When holding the control key with the left or right arrow, you will move the cursor a word at a time instead of a space at a time.

 

Using the Control key with the up and down arrows allows you to move the cursor a paragraph at a time.

 

Additionally, I showed her how the Home key will move the cursor to the beginning of the line, but adding the Control key with Home takes your cursor to the very beginning of the document.

 

Likewise, using the End key moves the cursor to the end of a line, while adding the Control key with End takes the cursor to the very end of the document.

Thanks!

Mandy Carter-Lowe
Assistant Professor of Biology / Science Coordinator
Columbia State Community College
1665 Hampshire Pike
Columbia, TN 38401
Office Phone: 931-540-2675