Keyboard Shortcuts Every Typist Should Know
Typing fast is only half the story. If you reach for the mouse every time you want to select a word or jump to the end of a line, you lose much of the time you saved. These shortcuts keep your hands on the keyboard.
Basic Editing
| Action | Windows / Linux | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Copy | Ctrl + C | ⌘ + C |
| Paste | Ctrl + V | ⌘ + V |
| Cut | Ctrl + X | ⌘ + X |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | ⌘ + Z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Y or Ctrl + Shift + Z | ⌘ + Shift + Z |
| Select all | Ctrl + A | ⌘ + A |
Moving the Cursor
| Action | Windows / Linux | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Previous / next word | Ctrl + ← / → | ⌥ + ← / → |
| Start / end of line | Home / End | ⌘ + ← / → |
| Start / end of document | Ctrl + Home / End | ⌘ + ↑ / ↓ |
Selecting Text
Add Shift to any cursor movement to select text while moving:
- Shift + Ctrl + → (Windows) or Shift + ⌥ + → (macOS) selects the next word.
- Shift + End (Windows) or Shift + ⌘ + → (macOS) selects to the end of the line.
Deleting Faster
| Action | Windows / Linux | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Delete previous word | Ctrl + Backspace | ⌥ + Delete |
| Delete next word | Ctrl + Delete | ⌥ + Fn + Delete |
| Delete to start of line | – | ⌘ + Delete |
Deleting a whole word is often faster than pressing backspace many times after a typo.
Working With Windows and Tabs
- Alt + Tab (Windows) / ⌘ + Tab (macOS): switch between applications
- Ctrl + Tab / ⌃ + Tab: switch between browser tabs
- Ctrl + T / ⌘ + T: open a new tab
- Ctrl + W / ⌘ + W: close the current tab
- Ctrl + L / ⌘ + L: jump to the address bar
How to Learn Shortcuts
Don't try to learn everything at once. Pick two or three shortcuts you would use every day, use them consciously for a week, then add the next ones. Like touch typing itself, shortcuts become automatic through repetition.
Summary
Shortcuts and touch typing go hand in hand: both keep your hands on the keyboard and your focus on your work. If you haven't learned touch typing yet, start with our beginner's guide or the interactive lessons.