This page is a complete keyboard shortcut reference for Word on macOS, covering all 67 shortcuts organized into 9 sections. Whether you’re new to Word or looking to master advanced features, this cheat sheet has every key combination you need — from basic editing and navigation to app-specific power-user actions.
Keyboard shortcuts are the fastest way to work in Word. Every time you use a shortcut instead of reaching for the mouse, you save a few seconds — and those seconds compound into hours over weeks and months. Start with the shortcuts you use most (copy, paste, undo, save), then gradually add app-specific ones as they become relevant to your workflow. Bookmark this page or download the PDF cheat sheet for quick reference.
Using keyboard shortcuts in Word reduces context switching between keyboard and mouse, helping you maintain focus and work more efficiently. Research shows that shortcut-driven workflows can save up to 8 working days per year compared to menu-driven navigation. On macOS, most Word shortcuts follow standard conventions — once you learn the modifier key patterns, new shortcuts become intuitive.
Tips for Learning Shortcuts
- Practice one new Word shortcut each day. Muscle memory builds faster when you focus on a single combination at a time rather than trying to learn them all at once.
- Print or bookmark this page for quick reference while working in Word. Having shortcuts visible nearby helps bridge the gap between looking them up and recalling them from memory.
- Start with the shortcuts you use most. In Word, common actions like copy, paste, undo, and save are worth learning first since they apply across nearly every workflow.
Frequently used16
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Undo | ⌘Z |
| Redo | ⌘Y |
| Cut | ⌘X |
| Copy | ⌘C |
| Paste | ⌘V |
| Paste Text Only | ⇧⌘V |
| Zoom In | ⌘+ |
| Zoom Out | ⌘- |
| Return to 100% Zoom | ⌘0 |
| Go To | ⌥⌘G |
| Spelling & Grammar | ⌥⌘L |
| Save As | ⇧⌘S |
| Find | ⌘F |
| Find and Replace | ⌃H |
| ⌘P | |
| Expand/Collapse Ribbon | ⌥⌘R |
Edit text8
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| New Document | ⌘N |
| Open Document | ⌘O |
| Save | ⌘S |
| Copy Formatting | ⌥⌘C |
| Paste Formatting | ⌥⌘V |
| Paste Special | ⌃⌘V |
| Select All | ⌘A |
| Insert Link | ⌘K |
Paragraph formatting15
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Center Align | ⌘E |
| Justify | ⌘J |
| Align Left | ⌘L |
| Align Right | ⌘R |
| Indent Paragraph | ⌃⇧M |
| Remove Indent | ⇧⌘M |
| Hanging Indent | ⌘T |
| Remove Hanging Indent | ⇧⌘T |
| Single Spacing | ⌘1 |
| Double Spacing | ⌘2 |
| 1.5 Line Spacing | ⌘5 |
| Apply Normal Style | ⇧⌘N |
| Apply Heading 1 | ⌥⌘1 |
| Apply Heading 2 | ⌥⌘2 |
| Apply Heading 3 | ⌥⌘3 |
Character formatting13
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Bold | ⌘B |
| Italic | ⌘I |
| Underline | ⌘U |
| Underline Words Only | ⇧⌘W |
| Double Underline | ⇧⌘D |
| All Caps | ⇧⌘A |
| Small Caps | ⇧⌘K |
| Strikethrough | ⇧⌘X |
| Font Dialog | ⌘D |
| Increase Font Size | ⇧⌘> |
| Decrease Font Size | ⇧⌘< |
| Increase Font 1pt | ⌘] |
| Decrease Font 1pt | ⌘[ |
Insert special characters4
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Insert Empty Field | ⌘F9 |
| Insert Line Break | ⇧Return |
| Insert Page Break | ⌘Return |
| Insert Column Break | ⇧⌘Return |
Review2
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Insert Comment | ⌥⌘A |
| Track Changes | ⇧⌘E |
Footnotes and endnotes2
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Insert Footnote | ⌥⌘F |
| Insert Endnote | ⌥⌘E |
Drawing1
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Toggle Drawing Mode | ⌃⌘Z |
Frequently Asked Questions
Access Word shortcuts from your menu bar
KeyShortcut detects the active app and shows its shortcuts instantly. No memorization needed.