Friday, January 27, 2012

Aspiring Advice: My Favorite Shortcuts


When I write and edit, I often look to shortcuts to help save time and to make me sound like a mad typer. Yeah. That's right. I went there. And you can to!

Granted, I'm and MS Word user, so I'm not sure if these shortcut work for all processors. You're welcome to give it a try. Most of these functions are found in your toolbar anyway, but the more you can do on your keyboard, the less you have to rely on your wrist-aching mouse.


Here's my favorite (used-all-the-time) shortcuts:


Ctrl-Alt-M – Insert Comment (great for critiquing)

Ctrl + Backspace - Deletes word to left of cursor.

Ctrl + I - Italicizes highlighted selection.

Ctrl + P - Opens the print window.

Ctrl + 2 - Double-space lines.

F7 - Run Spell Check

Shift + F12 - Save.


Use these shortcuts long enough and it will become second natural. Like combo moves on a video game, right? Now go lay claim to your story in record time!

 

Did I miss a really cool one? What are some of your favorite shortcuts?

I'm David, and I [Ctrl + I] really want a mouse tank!

37 comments:

  1. Someone else posted about shortcuts this week. I use them all the time. My wife's favorite it Ctrl-Alt-Delete. (She has a knack for locking up programs.)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ctrl+Right Arrow = Skip Forward One Word
    Ctrl+Left Arrow = Skip Backward One Word
    Ctrl+ Page Up Arrow = Skip to Top of Previous Page
    Ctrl+Page Down Arrow = Skip to Top of Next Page

    Then there are the standards:
    Ctrl+L = Align Text Left
    Ctrl+R = Align Text Right
    Ctrl+E = Align Text Center
    Ctrl+J = Justified

    Say you want to change a character's name?
    Ctrl+H = Find & Replace

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ooo . . I did't know about the Ctrl-M. I use Ctrl-X (cut) and Ctrl-Z (undo) a lot. Oh, and Ctrl-S (save).

    When computers first started coming around we had one at work that would go black screen randomly. I learned to use Ctrl-S about every time there I'd have a significant pause. There was an automatic save every 10 minutes, but if you're a fast typist you can crank out a lot of works in 10 minutes.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Where can I get me one of those?? LOL

    How about this little ditty from a like-minded Word user:

    en dash: Ctl-numeral dash
    em dash: Ctl-alt-numeral dash.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love these posts!

    I'll take a mousetank too...

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am so going to use Ctrl + backspace! I had no idea that was a shortcut! When editing I often use Ctrl + F to search my ms for words I know I've used too many times, or any problem/cliche-type words (like "sigh"!).

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you so much for this. I'm going to be using the Insert Comment one for sure. I'm such a point and click kinda dude, though.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I want the mousetank!! Seriously, I didn't know about Ctrol-alt-M

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hello, I'm all for a shortcut! I'm bookmarking this page so I can practice my combo moves.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ctrl+A = select all. Good when formating a large chunk. Also Ctrl+X = cut: Ctrl+C = copy and Ctrl+V = paste. I use these all the time in Excel...

    ReplyDelete
  11. CTRL-C, CTRL-V is pretty much all I use on a regular basis.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I really need to remember these two:
    F7 - Run Spell Check

    Shift + F12 - Save.

    Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  13. CRTL+ALT+the minus/dash key from the 10-key area: instant em-dash.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wicked! I didn't know that one.

      Delete
  14. Um...I'm revising and need to be using these asap! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for the shortcuts! I didn't know there was one for the comments. That will definitely help.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I didn't know about the comment one. Maybe I can enter this century now because the other way drives me crazy.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I have a laptop so I'll be typing along and one of my hands will get lazy and all the sudden I've created some fantastical shortcut that nearly wipes everything out! Thank goodness for the undo button! Is there a shortcut for that? I should know it by know :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. *gasp* Short cuts? Shortcuts aren't for "real" writers. *types away on my old school type writer*

    *winks*

    ReplyDelete
  19. I had no idea there were so many shortcuts. Thanks for that :-)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I generally use Ctrl+I for italic, Ctrl+B for bold, and Ctrl+U for underline. That generally helps. Oh, and often Ctrl+right or left arrow for skipping through words really fast. I love keyboard shortcuts.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Maybe something's wrong with me but I use the icons at the top of word for those functions.

    ReplyDelete
  22. My all-time favorite is just Alt. Word then gives you other letter shortcuts that allow you to navigate throughout the ribbon.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Awesome helps. I basically knew Ctrl+I and Ctrl+P. *sigh* It's so sad I didn't know more, but now I do. Thanks for the tips!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Love the mouse tank! I used to know all the shortcuts. On wordperfect. Sigh, how I loved wordperfect.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Ctrl + S is my Save go-to. I didn't know about the comment one! I'll be using that one for sure.

    ... As long as I can remember it. Couldn't it be like Alt + C or something more intuitive?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Ctrl+Z: to fix those weird glitches when I accidentally select a whole scene and delete it. Or when my cat decides to walk across the keyboard and do some of his own editing. That's a lifesaving shortcut for me!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love shortcuts too, though since becoming a Mac user I've found that some of the simpler things you can do on a PC are way more complicated on a Mac ;) Or maybe it's just on my particular laptop.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thank you Joshua! I've been trying to remember the alignment shortcuts since forever. ^_^

    Also, Saving can also be done with ctrl + S.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Am I old school that I just use the mouse clicks and the task bar at the top of the screen? :-p

    ReplyDelete
  30. Ah, I so didn't know the comment one! Going to be using that one now--thanks! Also, I want that mouse/tank, it's awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  31. What a cool post! Ah, shortcuts! I have a love-hate relationship since I have a hard time remembering them, LOL! :))
    I hopped over from Lynda R. Young's BBQ. I just became your latest follower. My blog is dedicated to helping aspiring writers.
    Hope to see you around.
    Cheers!
    Claudia
    http://www.claudiadelbalso.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thanks...I didn't know all those shortcuts.

    Old follower.

    I am stopping by from the Top Writing Blog competition.

    Just wanted to say hello. This is a great way to find new blogs and visit ones you haven't visited in a while. :)

    Elizabeth - Silver's Reviews

    http://silversolara.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Ctrl C, Ctrl A, Ctrl V. Nuff said.

    Wendy

    ReplyDelete
  34. Thanks for that-I knew a couple of them. Not sure about he mouse tank, at first i thought it was a tank for mice-missing the point or what, though a tank for mice might be worth seeing...

    ReplyDelete