Many software vendors including Microsoft have shortcut keys that allow you quick access to certain tasks from just a few keystrokes rather than having to take your hand off the keyboard and using the mouse to go up to a menu item.
While these shortcut keys may differ a little from program to program, many of the keys will be the same such as Ctrl-C to copy and Ctrl-N for a new file or document. Microsoft Office has its own set of shortcut keys that you can use to speed up your tasks. They may not be the same shortcuts you are used to in other software but many of them will be the same since they tend to apply to Windows programs in general. Keep in mind that they may not all be the same depending on your version of Windows.
Here is a listing of the most common Office shortcut keys.
| Excel Shortcut Keys | Description |
| F7 | Spell check |
| F11 | Create chart |
| Ctrl + Shift + ; | Enter the current time |
| Ctrl + ; | Enter the current date |
| Alt + Shift + F1 | Insert New Worksheet |
| Shift + F3 | Open the Excel formula window |
| Shift + F5 | Bring up search box |
| Ctrl + A | Select all contents of the worksheet |
| Ctrl + B | Bold |
| Ctrl + I | Italic |
| Ctrl + K | Insert hyperlink |
| Ctrl + U | Underline |
| Ctrl + 5 | Strikethrough |
| Ctrl + P | Bring up the print dialog box to begin printing |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo |
| Ctrl + F9 | Minimize window |
| Ctrl + F10 | Maximize window |
| Ctrl + F6 | Switch between open workbooks |
| Ctrl + Tab | Move to next worksheet |
| Ctrl + Shift + ! | Format number in comma format |
| Ctrl + Shift + $ | Format number in currency format |
| Ctrl + Shift + # | Format number in date format |
| Ctrl + Shift + % | Format number in percentage format |
| Ctrl + Shift + ^ | Format number in scientific format |
| Ctrl + Shift + @ | Format number in time format |
| Ctrl + Arrow key | Move to next section of text |
| Ctrl + Space | Select entire column |
| Shift + Space | Select entire row |
| Word Shortcut Keys | Function |
| Ctrl + Shift + A | All CAPS |
| Ctrl + B | Make Bold |
| Esc | Cancel |
| Shift + F3 | Change case |
| Ctrl + W | Close document |
| Ctrl + C | Copy |
| Ctrl + X | Cut |
| Ctrl + Backspace | Delete pervious word |
| Ctrl + F | Find and Replace |
| Shift + F4 | Find |
| Ctrl + Shift + [ | Font, decreased Font by 1 point |
| Ctrl + ] | Font, Increased Font by 1 point |
| Ctrl + Shift + < | Font, decrease Font down by 1 size |
| Ctrl + Shift + > | Font, Increase Font up by 1 size |
| Ctrl + Home | Go to the beginning of the document |
| Ctrl + End | Go to the end of the document |
| Alt + Shift + D | Insert Date field with current Date |
| Alt + Shift + P | Insert Page field with current Page |
| Alt + Shift + T | Insert Time field with current Time |
| Ctrl + K | Insert a hyperlink |
| Ctrl + I | Italicize |
| Shift + Enter | Line break / new line same paragraph |
| Ctrl + O | Open |
| Shift + F7 | Thesaurus |
| Ctrl + V | Paste |
| Ctrl + Enter | Page break |
| Ctrl + P | |
| F7 | Proofing / Spell Check |
| F4 or Ctrl + Y | Repeat / Redo your last action |
| Ctrl + Spacebar | Reset Character |
| Ctrl + S | Save |
| Ctrl + A | Select all |
| Ctrl + Shift + Home | Select to the beginning of the document |
| Ctrl + Shift + End | Select to the end of the document |
| Ctrl + U | Underline |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo |
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