We spend a lot of time on the computer in text-based applications like Mail and Word. Switching your right hand back and forth between the keyboard and mouse to select things or move the cursor can really slow you down when you are feeling the flow. So for that reason i’d like to show you a few keyboard shortcuts that’ll mitigate this situation.
The Apple keyboard has 4 main modifier keys. A modifier key is a keyboard key that, when pressed in conjunction with another key performs a different function. The Apple (AKA command) key is a modifier. If you type “S” then an “S” will appear on the screen. But if you hold Apple and hit “S” then you will save a document. That’s a modifier.
So check this out:
Apple + Right Arrow = Move cursor to the end of the current line
Option + Right Arrow = Move cursor to the end of the current word
Apple + Up Arrow = Move cursor to the top of the page
Apple + Down Arrow = Move cursor to the bottom of the page
SHIFT:
Adding the Shift key into the mix allows you to not only move the cursor but to select text as you go. Try holding Apple + Shift + Left Arrow. You can always use Shift to highlight text.
Shift + Left 0r Right Arrow = Highlight one character at a time in either direction.
Shift + Up or Down Arrow = Highlight one line at a time in either direction
Shift + Option Left or Right Arrow = Highlight one word at a time in either direction.
Practice these. Trust me, they are very useful. And as you learn more and more tricks on the keyboard you’ll find yourself working a lot faster and smarte, trust me, you’ll thank me later!
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