Quick summary
A keyboard shortcut (शॉर्टकट) is a key or a group of keys that does a job quickly, without the mouse. Press the keys together: hold the first key (like Ctrl) and tap the next one. The tables below cover Windows, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint and web browsers.
Key points
- Ctrl, Alt, Shift and the Windows key are used with other keys.
- Ctrl + C copies, Ctrl + X cuts and Ctrl + V pastes.
- Ctrl + Z undoes the last action; Ctrl + Y redoes it.
- Ctrl + S saves your file; save often.
- The same shortcut can do different jobs in different programs. Example: Ctrl + H is Replace in Word but History in a browser.
- F5 starts a slide show in PowerPoint but refreshes in File Explorer or a browser.
- Function keys F1 to F12 are on the top row of the keyboard.
Windows and common shortcuts
| Shortcut | Use |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + C | Copy |
| Ctrl + X | Cut |
| Ctrl + V | Paste |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo |
| Ctrl + A | Select all |
| Ctrl + S | Save |
| Ctrl + O | Open a file |
| Ctrl + N | New file or new window |
| Ctrl + P | |
| Ctrl + F | Find |
| Alt + Tab | Switch between open windows |
| Alt + F4 | Close the active window or program |
| Windows key | Open the Start menu |
| Windows + D | Show the desktop |
| Windows + E | Open File Explorer |
| Windows + L | Lock the computer |
| Windows + I | Open Settings |
| Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Open Task Manager |
| F2 | Rename the selected file or folder |
| F5 | Refresh |
| Shift + Delete | Delete permanently, without the Recycle Bin |
| Print Screen | Take a screenshot of the screen |
| Windows + Shift + S | Snip (capture) a selected part of the screen |
MS Word shortcuts
| Shortcut | Use |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + B | Bold |
| Ctrl + I | Italic |
| Ctrl + U | Underline |
| Ctrl + L | Align left |
| Ctrl + E | Center |
| Ctrl + R | Align right |
| Ctrl + J | Justify |
| Ctrl + H | Find and Replace |
| Ctrl + K | Insert hyperlink |
| F7 | Spelling and grammar check |
| Ctrl + Enter | Page break |
| Ctrl + Home | Go to the start of the document |
| Ctrl + End | Go to the end of the document |
| Ctrl + ] | Increase font size by one point |
| Ctrl + [ | Decrease font size by one point |
MS Excel shortcuts
| Shortcut | Use |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + ; | Enter today's date |
| Ctrl + Shift + ; | Enter the current time |
| Alt + = | AutoSum |
| F2 | Edit the active cell |
| F4 | Toggle absolute reference, like $A$1, while typing a formula |
| Ctrl + Arrow key | Jump to the edge of the data |
| Ctrl + Space | Select the whole column |
| Shift + Space | Select the whole row |
| Ctrl + 1 | Open Format Cells |
| Ctrl + Page Down | Go to the next sheet |
| Ctrl + Page Up | Go to the previous sheet |
| Shift + F11 | Insert a new sheet |
PowerPoint and browser shortcuts
| Shortcut | Use |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + M | New slide (PowerPoint) |
| F5 | Start slide show from the first slide |
| Shift + F5 | Start slide show from the current slide |
| Esc | End the slide show |
| B | Black screen during a slide show; press again to return |
| Ctrl + T | New tab (browser) |
| Ctrl + W | Close the current tab |
| Ctrl + Shift + T | Reopen the last closed tab |
| Ctrl + Tab | Go to the next tab |
| Ctrl + D | Bookmark the page |
| Ctrl + H | Open history |
| Ctrl + J | Open downloads (Chrome and Edge) |
| Ctrl + L | Select the address bar |
| Ctrl + Plus / Ctrl + Minus | Zoom in / zoom out |
| Ctrl + 0 | Reset zoom |
| F11 | Full screen on or off |
Important terms
- Shortcut key – keys pressed together to do a task fast.
- Function keys – keys F1 to F12 on the top row.
- Modifier keys – Ctrl, Alt, Shift and Windows, used with other keys.
- Clipboard – temporary memory that holds copied or cut items.
Practice questions (with answers)
Q1. Which shortcut opens Task Manager directly?
- (A) Ctrl + Shift + Esc
- (B) Alt + Tab
- (C) Windows + D
- (D) Ctrl + P
Answer: (A) Ctrl + Shift + Esc — it opens Task Manager.
Q2. In MS Word, Ctrl + E is used to:
- (A) Erase text
- (B) Close Word
- (C) Center the text
- (D) Save
Answer: (C) Center the text — L, E, R, J are left, center, right, justify.
Q3. Which Excel shortcut enters today's date in a cell?
- (A) Ctrl + 1
- (B) Ctrl + ;
- (C) Alt + =
- (D) F4
Answer: (B) Ctrl + ; — Ctrl + Shift + ; enters the time.
Q4. Which shortcut locks a Windows computer?
- (A) Windows + E
- (B) Windows + I
- (C) Alt + F4
- (D) Windows + L
Answer: (D) Windows + L — L for Lock.
Q5. Which browser shortcut reopens the tab you closed by mistake?
- (A) Ctrl + W
- (B) Ctrl + T
- (C) Ctrl + Shift + T
- (D) Ctrl + D
Answer: (C) Ctrl + Shift + T — Ctrl + W closes a tab.
Exam tip
Learn shortcuts in pairs: Ctrl + Z / Ctrl + Y, F5 / Shift + F5, Ctrl + Page Down / Ctrl + Page Up. Watch for keys that work differently in different programs.