Select text by using the keyboard

Select text by using the keyboard

Select text by holding down SHIFT and pressing the key that moves the insertion point. To select multiple areas that aren't next to each other, make your first selection, hold down CTRL, and then select any other items you want.

To extend a selection

SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW

One character to the right

SHIFT+LEFT ARROW

One character to the left

CTRL+SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW

To the end of a word

CTRL+SHIFT+LEFT ARROW

To the beginning of a word

SHIFT+END

To the end of a line

SHIFT+HOME

To the beginning of a line

SHIFT+DOWN ARROW

One line down

SHIFT+UP ARROW

One line up

CTRL+SHIFT+DOWN ARROW

To the end of a paragraph

CTRL+SHIFT+UP ARROW

To the beginning of a paragraph

SHIFT+PAGE DOWN

One screen down

SHIFT+PAGE UP

One screen up

CTRL+SHIFT+HOME

To the beginning of a document

CTRL+SHIFT+END

To the end of a document

ALT+CTRL+SHIFT+PAGE DOWN

To the end of a window

CTRL+A

To include the entire document

CTRL+SHIFT+F8, and then use the arrow keys; press ESC to cancel selection mode

To a vertical block of text

F8+arrow keys; press ESC to cancel selection mode

To a specific location in a document

F8

Turn extend mode on

F8, and then press LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW

Select the nearest character

F8 (press once to select a word, twice to select a sentence, and so forth)

Increase the size of a selection

SHIFT+F8

Reduce the size of a selection

ESC

Turn extend mode off

Tip

If you know the key combination to move the insertion point, you can generally select the text by using the same key combination while holding down SHIFT. For example, CTRL+RIGHT ARROW moves the insertion point to the next word, and CTRL+SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW selects the text from the insertion point to the beginning of the next word.