Shortcut keys ABCs

Shortcut keys help provide an easier and usually quicker method of

navigating and executing commands in computer software programs.
Shortcut keys are commonly accessed by using the Alt key (on IBM
compatible computers), Command key (on Apple computers), Ctrl key, or
Shift key in conjunction with another key. The de facto standard for listing a
shortcut is listing the modifier key, a plus symbol, and another key. In other
words, "Ctrl+S" is telling you to press and hold the Ctrl key, and then press
the S key too.
File menu with underlined shortcut lettersYou can also find the shortcut keys
to their most popular program by looking for underlined letters in their
menus. For example, the image to the right has an underline on the "F" in
File, which means you can press the Alt key and then the "F" key to access
the File menu.
Some programs require the user to press and hold Alt to see the underlined
characters. In the same image above, you can see that some of the common
features, such as Open (Ctrl+O) and Save (Ctrl+S), have shortcut keys
assigned to them. As you begin to memorize shortcut keys, you'll notice that
many applications share the same shortcut keys. We have a list of the most
commonly shared ones in the basic PC shortcut keys section.
Tip: Users outside the United States or who have a foreign copy of Microsoft
Windows or a Microsoft application may not be able to use all of the below
shortcut keys.
Basic PC shortcut keys

Below is a list of some of the most commonly used basic shortcut keys that
work with almost all IBM compatible computers and software programs. It is
highly recommended that all users keep a good reference of these shortcut
keys or try to memorize them. Doing so will dramatically increase your
productivity.
Tip: Besides the special character shortcuts listed here, some special
characters are also located on the number keys (below the F1 - F12 keys).
You can enter these special characters by pressing the Shift key and the
number key that has the special character listed on it.
Shortcut Keys

Description

Alt + F

File menu options in current program.

Alt + E

Edit options in current program

Alt + Tab

Switch between open programs

F1

Universal Help in almost every Windows program.

F2

Rename a selected file

F5

Refresh the current program window

Ctrl + N

Create a new, blank document in some software programs

Ctrl + O

Open a file in current software program

Ctrl + A

Select all text.

Ctrl + B

Change selected text to be Bold

Ctrl + I

Change selected text to be in Italics

Ctrl + U

Change selected text to be Underlined

Ctrl + F

Open find window for current document or window.

Ctrl + S

Save current document file.

Ctrl + X

Cut selected item.

Shift + Del

Cut selected item.

Ctrl + C

Copy selected item.

Ctrl + Ins

Copy selected item

Ctrl + V

Paste

Shift + Ins

Paste

Ctrl + K

Insert hyperlink for selected text

Ctrl + P

Print the current page or document.

Home Goes to beginning of current line.

Ctrl + Home Goes to beginning of document.
End

Goes to end of current line.

Ctrl + End

Goes to end of document.

Shift + Home

Highlights from current position to beginning of line.

Shift + End Highlights from current position to end of line.

Ctrl + Left arrow

Moves one word to the left at a time.

Ctrl + Right arrow Moves one word to the right at a time.

Ctrl + Esc

Opens the START menu

Ctrl + Shift + Esc

Opens Windows Task Manager

Alt + F4

Close the currently active program

Alt + Enter
etc.)

Open the Properties for the selected item (file, folder, shortcut,

PC shortcut keys for Special Characters

There are many special characters that can be created using keyboard
shortcuts. Below are some of the more common and popular special
characters and the keyboard shortcuts to create them.
Shortcut Keys
Alt + 0224

Alt + 0232

Alt + 0236

Alt + 0242

Alt + 0241

Alt + 0228

Alt + 0246

Alt + 0252

Alt + 0248

Alt + 0223

Alt + 0198

Alt + 0231

Special Character

Alt + 0191

Alt + 0176

(degree symbol)

Alt + 0177

(plus/minus symbol)

Alt + 0153

Alt + 0169

Alt + 0174

Alt + 0128

(Euro currency)

Alt + 0162

(Cent symbol)

Alt + 0163

(British Pound currency)

Alt + 0165

(Japanese Yen currency)