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Word Shortcuts

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

ActionShortcut
UndoZ
RedoY
CutX
CopyC
PasteV
Paste Text OnlyV
Zoom In+
Zoom Out-
Return to 100% Zoom0
Go ToG
Spelling & GrammarL
Save AsS
FindF
Find and ReplaceH
PrintP
Expand/Collapse RibbonR

Edit text8

ActionShortcut
New DocumentN
Open DocumentO
SaveS
Copy FormattingC
Paste FormattingV
Paste SpecialV
Select AllA
Insert LinkK

Paragraph formatting15

ActionShortcut
Center AlignE
JustifyJ
Align LeftL
Align RightR
Indent ParagraphM
Remove IndentM
Hanging IndentT
Remove Hanging IndentT
Single Spacing1
Double Spacing2
1.5 Line Spacing5
Apply Normal StyleN
Apply Heading 11
Apply Heading 22
Apply Heading 33

Character formatting13

ActionShortcut
BoldB
ItalicI
UnderlineU
Underline Words OnlyW
Double UnderlineD
All CapsA
Small CapsK
StrikethroughX
Font DialogD
Increase Font Size>
Decrease Font Size<
Increase Font 1pt]
Decrease Font 1pt[

Insert special characters4

ActionShortcut
Insert Empty FieldF9
Insert Line BreakReturn
Insert Page BreakReturn
Insert Column BreakReturn

Review2

ActionShortcut
Insert CommentA
Track ChangesE

Footnotes and endnotes2

ActionShortcut
Insert FootnoteF
Insert EndnoteE

Drawing1

ActionShortcut
Toggle Drawing ModeZ

Frequently Asked Questions

Access Word shortcuts from your menu bar

KeyShortcut detects the active app and shows its shortcuts instantly. No memorization needed.