Microsoft Office 2021 is a powerful suite of applications that includes programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more. One of the features that makes Microsoft Office particularly efficient is the ability to use keyboard shortcuts. These shortcuts allow users to perform tasks quickly without relying on the mouse. This document will provide a comprehensive guide on how to use shortcuts in Microsoft Office 2021, covering the various applications in the suite.
General benefits of using keyboard shortcuts
Before diving into specific shortcuts, it's important to understand why using keyboard shortcuts can be beneficial. First, they save time. Instead of navigating through menus with the mouse, you can take action immediately. Second, shortcuts can reduce strain. Repeatedly reaching for the mouse can cause discomfort over time, while staying at the keyboard can be more ergonomically friendly. Finally, keyboard shortcuts support multitasking. You can quickly execute commands without losing focus on your task.
Keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Word 2021
Microsoft Word is one of the most widely used word processing programs. Knowing the right shortcuts can greatly improve your productivity.
Commonly used shortcuts
Copy: Ctrl + C
Cut: Ctrl + X
Paste: Ctrl + V
Undo: Ctrl+Z
Redo: Ctrl + Y
Select all: Ctrl+A
Bold: Ctrl+B
Italics: Ctrl + I
Underline: Ctrl+U
Navigation shortcuts
Navigating through a document using the keyboard can be much faster than using the scroll bars. Here are some navigation shortcuts:
Go to the beginning of the document: Ctrl + Home
Go to the end of the document: Ctrl + End
Move one word to the left: Ctrl+Left Arrow
Move one word to the right: Ctrl+Right Arrow
Move up one paragraph: Ctrl+Up Arrow
Move down one paragraph: Ctrl+Down Arrow
Formatting shortcuts
Formatting text quickly can be crucial to efficiency in Word. Here are some useful shortcuts:
Open the Font dialog box: Ctrl+D
Change case: Shift + F3
Create a hyperlink: Ctrl + K
Align paragraph center: Ctrl + E
Justify paragraph: Ctrl + J
Align paragraph to the left: Ctrl + L
Align paragraph to the right: Ctrl + R
Keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Excel 2021
Excel is another essential program in the Office suite, loved for its spreadsheet management capabilities. Shortcuts can help streamline your data management.
Common shortcuts for Excel
Copy: Ctrl + C
Cut: Ctrl + X
Paste: Ctrl + V
Undo: Ctrl+Z
Redo: Ctrl + Y
Select all: Ctrl+A
Bold: Ctrl+B
Italics: Ctrl + I
Navigation shortcuts in Excel
Go to the beginning of the line: Home
Go to the beginning of the worksheet: Ctrl + Home
Move one cell to the right: Tab
Move one cell to the left: Shift + Tab
Move up one cell: Up Arrow
Move one cell down: Down Arrow
Go to the last cell on a worksheet: Ctrl + End
Data management shortcuts
Data management in Excel becomes more efficient when you use the following shortcuts:
Open the Format Cells dialog box: Ctrl+1
Insert current date: Ctrl + ; (semicolon)
Insert current time: Ctrl + Shift + ; (semicolon)
Apply or remove strikethrough: Ctrl + 5
Hide row: Ctrl + 9
Hide column: Ctrl+0 (zero)
Keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft PowerPoint 2021
PowerPoint is widely used to create presentations. Here shortcuts help in designing and running presentations more effectively.
Common shortcuts for PowerPoint
Copy: Ctrl + C
Cut: Ctrl + X
Paste: Ctrl + V
Undo: Ctrl+Z
Redo: Ctrl + Y
Select all: Ctrl+A
Bold: Ctrl+B
Italics: Ctrl + I
Underline: Ctrl+U
Slide management shortcuts
These shortcuts can make managing slides more efficient:
Insert a new slide: Ctrl + M
Copy the selected slide: Ctrl + D
Go to the next slide: Page Down
Go to previous slide: Page up
Start presentation from the beginning: F5
Start presentation from current slide: Shift + F5
Open the Move to Slide dialog box: Ctrl+S
Formatting shortcuts in PowerPoint
Quickly format slides and objects with these handy shortcuts:
Center shapes or objects: Ctrl+E
Align shapes or objects to the left: Ctrl + L
Align shapes or objects to the right: Ctrl + R
Group selected shapes or objects: Ctrl + G
Ungroup selected shapes or objects: Ctrl + Shift + G
Creating custom shortcuts in Microsoft Office 2021
While built-in shortcuts are incredibly useful, you may find times when you need to create your own shortcuts for specific tasks. Microsoft Office allows users to customize and create their own shortcuts. Here's how you can create custom shortcuts in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
Custom shortcuts in Word
To create a custom shortcut in Word:
Go to the File tab and select Options.
Select Customize Ribbon.
Click the Customize button next to Keyboard Shortcuts.
In the Categories list, select the category that contains the command for which you want to assign a shortcut.
In the Commands list, select the command.
Click in the Press new shortcut key box and press the key combination you want to use.
Click Assign, and then click Close.
Custom shortcuts in Excel
The process for creating a shortcut in Excel is similar:
Select the File tab and go to Options.
Click on the Quick Access Toolbar.
Click the Customize ribbon and choose Keyboard Shortcuts.
Just like in Word, choose a category and command, then set up a shortcut.
Custom shortcuts in PowerPoint
In PowerPoint, you can customize your shortcuts with the same method:
Click Accessibility Options under the File tab.
Click the Customize ribbon, then click Keyboard Shortcuts.
Select the category and command, and specify your preferred shortcut.
Conclusion
Mastering keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Office 2021 can greatly improve productivity and make using these applications more fun and efficient. Whether you're primarily using Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, the right combination of keystrokes can save time and effort. Plus, customizing shortcuts can help your experience better fit your workflow. With practice and memorization, you'll be able to use these shortcuts to your advantage, making you faster and more efficient at any Microsoft Office task.
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