Word Tip of the Day
Taking advantage of Extend Selection mode (Word 97/2000/2002)
If you prefer to navigate and edit your documents using Word's keyboard shortcuts rather than the mouse, then you're probably quite adept at using the various [Ctrl] and [Shift] keyboard shortcuts for selecting portions of text. However, when you need to select a complete word, sentence, or paragraph, these shortcuts can be tricky to use. To make easy work of selecting text using the keyboard, Word offers the Extend Selection mode. This mode enables you to select portions of text using keyboard shortcuts that are much less clumsy than the [Ctrl] and [Shift] shortcuts available in Normal mode. In fact, Extend Selection mode abbreviates many of the Normal mode selection shortcuts simply by eliminating [Shift] from the key combination. You'll find Extend Selection mode especially handy when you need to select a lengthy block of text that extends beyond a single screen. Below is a list of Extend Selection mode keyboard shortcuts. However, keep in mind that you can also use the mouse to extend a selection in Extend Selection mode.
-- To turn Extend Selection mode on, press [F8] or double-click on EXT.
After you've turned on Extend Selection mode:
-- To select the nearest character, press the [Left Arrow] or [Right Arrow] key.
-- To select the active word, press [F8] once.
-- To select the active sentence, press [F8] a second time.
-- To select the active paragraph, press [F8] a third time.
-- To select the entire document, press [F8] a fourth time.
To select items between the insertion point and:
-- A specific character, press desired character key.
-- The beginning or end of a line, press [Home] or [End].
-- The top or bottom of the screen, press [Alt][Ctrl][Up Arrow] or [Alt][Ctrl][Down Arrow].
-- The beginning or end of the document, press [Ctrl][Home] or [Ctrl][End].
-- One line up or down, press [Up Arrow] or [Down Arrow].
-- One screen up or down: Press [Page Up] or [Page Down].
-- To reduce the size of a selection, press [Shift][F8].
-- To turn Extend Selection mode off, press [Esc] or [Shift][F5], or double-click on EXT.
(NOTE: Keep in mind that because Extend Selection mode implements your keyboard's character keys as selection tools, you can't type new text in your document while Extend Selection mode is turned on. To enter new text in your document, turn off Extend Selection mode using one of the methods we mentioned earlier.)
(Content provided by Element K Journals)
(Note: Your browser is set to refuse cookies. As a result, you may frequently see previously-viewed tips)
Print
CloseCopyright © 2001 - 2025 MJ Technologies, LLC. All rights reserved.