Most useful Microsoft Word keyboard shortcuts in 2024

Microsoft Word includes powerful tools, many of which can be accessed quickly by using keyboard shortcuts to boost productivity.

Word is one of the most used business applications in the world, but many people don't use it as efficiently as they could. The application is packed full of keyboard shortcuts that, once learned, can greatly speed up common tasks. Utilising them will boost your productivity.

Below we've listed the most useful Word shortcut key combinations.

• Selection Shortcuts
• Navigation Shortcuts
• Formatting Shortcuts
• Editing Shortcuts
• Document Management
• Insert Shortcuts

Selection Shortcuts in Word

These shortcuts help you select text in your document much quicker than using a fiddly mouse cursor. This is a task that has become harder as Word has become 'smarter'. It now tries to second-guess what you're trying to select.

These shortcuts should help make that job easier.

Navigation Shortcuts in Word

These shortcuts assist with navigating around your document quickly.

Formatting Shortcuts in Word

The most common task in Word, other than writing text, is formatting text. Repeatedly moving your cursor up to the ribbon to select the desired formatting command is tedious and time consuming. Using these shortcuts means you can change formatting as your type, or quickly after the fact.

Editing Shortcuts in Word

These shortcut combinations will speed up editing.

Document Management Shortcuts in Word

Opening a new document means navigating your mouse to the file button at the top of the screen and clicking Blank Document from the menu. It might now seem like much, but using a simple keyboard shortcut eliminates those steps. Saving a few seconds each time adds up over the course of a year.

Insert Shortcuts in Word

New shortcuts are introduced with each iteration of Microsoft's Windows operating system. Below is a list of useful shortcuts specific to Windows 11.

Use these shortcuts to boost your Word productivity. We've written other guides with similar helpful shortcuts to help you become a power user. 

Most useful Windows shortcuts

8 time-saving Windows 11 Shortcuts

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