How to use this list
Type what you want to do — “bold”, “spacing”, “symbol” — or filter by section. Keys joined by + are pressed together. Download the PDF cheat sheet to print and keep beside your keyboard.
Shortcuts that make documents look professional
- Use headings, not bold text. Apply Heading 1–3 with Ctrl+Alt+1/2/3. Word can then build a table of contents automatically, andF9 updates it.
- Break pages properly. Ctrl+Enter inserts a page break, so later edits don't push headings to the bottom of a page the way repeated Enter presses do.
- Copy formatting, not text. Ctrl+Shift+C then Ctrl+Shift+V makes a paragraph match another.
- See hidden formatting. Ctrl+Shift+8 shows spaces, tabs and paragraph marks — the fastest way to fix odd spacing.
For resumes, letters and reports
Most Indian job applications and office letters are still written in Word. A clean document uses one font, consistent spacing (Ctrl+1 or Ctrl+5), justified or left-aligned text (Ctrl+J, Ctrl+L) and proper headings. Before sending, run the spelling and grammar check with F7.
Checking length limits? Use the word counter. Also see Excel shortcuts and PowerPoint shortcuts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the shortcut for a page break in Word?
Press Ctrl+Enter to start a new page. For a line break without starting a new paragraph, press Shift+Enter.
How do I change text to capital letters in Word?
Select the text and press Shift+F3 to cycle between lowercase, UPPERCASE and Capitalise Each Word. Ctrl+Shift+A applies all caps as formatting.
What is the shortcut for word count?
Ctrl+Shift+G opens the Word Count dialog, which also shows characters, paragraphs and lines. The count also appears in the status bar at the bottom.
How do I set 1.5 line spacing quickly?
Select the paragraphs and press Ctrl+5. Ctrl+1 sets single spacing and Ctrl+2 sets double spacing.
Last updated: 23 September 2026Suggest an improvement · Report a problem