What do we call the blinking thing in Microsoft Word This is where the keys we type in your keyboard will appear?
This article describes the keyboard shortcuts and function keys in Word for Windows. Show
Notes:
In this topic
Frequently used shortcutsThis table shows the most frequently used shortcuts in Microsoft Word.
Top of page Close a task paneTo close a task pane using the keyboard:
Ribbon keyboard shortcutsThe ribbon groups related options on tabs. For example, on the Home tab, the Font group includes the Font Color option. Press the Alt key to display the ribbon shortcuts, called Key Tips, as letters in small images next to the tabs and options as shown in the image below.
Note: Add-ins and other programs can add new tabs to the ribbon and might provide access keys for those tabs. You can combine the Key Tips letters with the Alt key to make shortcuts called Access Keys for the ribbon options. For example, press Alt+H to open the Home tab, and Alt+Q to move to the Tell Me or Search field. Press Alt again to see Key Tips for the options for the selected tab. Depending on the version of Office you are using, the Search text field at the top of the app window might be called Tell Me instead. Both offer a largely similar experience, but some options and search results can vary. In Office 2013 and Office 2010, most of the old Alt key menu shortcuts still work, too. However, you need to know the full shortcut. For example, press Alt, and then press one of the old menu keys E (Edit), V (View), I (Insert), and so on. A notification pops up saying you're using an access key from an earlier version of Microsoft Office. If you know the entire key sequence, go ahead and use it. If you don't know the sequence, press Esc and use Key Tips instead. Use the Access Keys for ribbon tabsTo go directly to a tab on the ribbon, press one of the following access keys. Additional tabs might appear depending on your selection in the document.
Top of page Work in the ribbon with the keyboard
Top of page Navigate the document
Top of page Navigate the document using the browse options in Word 2007 and 2010In Word 2007 and 2010, you can browse the document by various types of objects, such as fields, footnotes, headings, and graphics.
Top of page Preview and print documents
Top of page Select text and graphics
Top of page Extend a selection
Top of page Edit text and graphics
Top of page Align and format paragraphs
Top of page Format characters
Top of page Manage text formatting
Top of page Insert special characters
Top of page Work with web content
Top of page Work with tablesMove around in a table
Top of page Select table content
Top of page Insert paragraphs and tab characters in a table
Top of page Review a document
Top of page Work with references, citations, and indexingUse the following shortcuts to add references to your document, such as a table of contents, footnotes, and citations.
Top of page Work with mail merge and fieldsTo use the following keyboard shortcuts, the Mailings ribbon tab must be selected. To select the Mailings tab, press Alt+M. Perform a mail merge
Top of page Work with fields
Top of page Work with text in other languagesSet the proofing languageEvery document has a default language, typically the same default language as your computer's operating system. If your document also contains words or phrases in a different language, it's a good idea to set the proofing language for those words. This not only makes it possible to check spelling and grammar for those phrases, but it also enables assistive technologies like screen readers to handle them appropriately.
Top of page Insert international charactersTo type a lowercase character by using a key combination that includes the Shift key, hold down the Ctrl+Shift+symbol keys simultaneously, and then release them before you type the letter. Note: If you type extensively in another language, you might prefer to switch to a different keyboard instead.
Top of page Use Input Method Editors for East Asian languages
Top of page Work with document viewsWord offers several different views of a document. Each view makes it easier to do certain tasks. For example, Read Mode enables you view the document as a horizontal sequence of pages, which you can quickly browse using the Left and Right arrow keys. Switch the document view
Top of page Outline a documentThese shortcuts only apply when the document is in the Outline view.
Top of page Move through the document in Read Mode
Top of page Use function key shortcuts
Top of page See alsoWord help center Basic tasks using a screen reader with Word Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Word Accessibility support for Word This article describes the keyboard shortcuts and function keys in Word for Mac. Notes:
For the best experience using your keyboard with the ribbon, enable your keyboard to access all controls.
In this topic
Frequently used shortcutsThis table lists frequently used shortcuts in Word for Mac.
Top of page Shortcut conflictsSome Word for Mac keyboard shortcuts conflict with default macOS keyboard shortcuts. This topic flags such shortcuts with an asterisk ( * ). To use these shortcuts, you may have to change your Mac keyboard settings to change the shortcut for the key. Change system preferences for keyboard shortcuts
Navigate the document
Top of page Select text and graphicsTip: If you know the key combination to move the cursor, you can generally select the text by using the same key combination while holding down Shift. For example, +Right arrow moves the cursor to the next word, and +Shift+Right arrow selects the text from the cursor to the beginning of the next word.
Top of page Extend a selection
Top of page Edit text and graphics
Top of page Align and format paragraphs
Top of page Format characters
Top of page Insert special characters
Top of page Work with tablesMove around in a table
Top of page Select table content
Top of page Resize table columns with the ruler
Top of page Resize table columns directly in a tableTip: To finely adjust the column width and display the column's measurements in the ruler when you resize the column, turn off the snap-to functionality by pressing Option with the shortcut keys.
Top of page Insert paragraphs and tab characters in a table
Top of page Drawing
Top of page Work with fields
Top of page Outline a documentThese shortcuts only apply when the document is in the Outline view.
Top of page Review a document
Top of page Use footnotes and endnotes
Top of page Work with right-to-left languagesWord supports right-to-left functionality for languages that work in a right-to-left or a combined right-to-left, left-to-right environment for writing, editing, and displaying text. In this context, right-to-left languages refers to any writing system that is written from right to left and includes languages that require contextual shaping, such as Arabic, and languages that do not. Before you can use these keyboard shortcuts, you need to ensure keyboard shortcuts are enabled for the language you are using:
Top of page Use function key shortcutsWord for Mac uses the function keys for common commands, including Copy and Paste. For quick access to these shortcuts, you can change your Apple system preferences so you don't have to press the Fn key every time you use a function key shortcut. Note: Changing system function key preferences affects how the function keys work on your Mac, not just in Word. After changing this setting, you can still perform the special features printed on a function key. Just press the Fn key. For example, to use the F12 key to change your volume, press Fn+F12. If a function key doesn't work as you expect it to, press the Fn key in addition to the function key. If you don't want to press the Fn key each time, you can change your Apple system preferences. For instructions, go to Change function key preferences. The following table provides the function key shortcuts for Word for Mac.
Top of page Change function key preferences
See alsoWord help center Basic tasks using a screen reader with Word Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Word This article describes the keyboard shortcuts in Word for the web. Notes:
In this topic
Frequently used shortcutsThis table lists the most frequently used shortcuts in Word for the web.
Top of page Ribbon keyboard shortcutsWord for the web offers shortcuts called access keys to navigate the ribbon. If you’ve used access keys to save time on Word for desktop computers, you’ll find access keys very similar in Word for the web. On a Windows computer, access keys all start with Alt+Period (.) or Alt+Windows logo key, then add a letter for the ribbon tab. For example, to go to the Review tab, press Alt+Period, R or Alt+Windows logo key, R. If you're using Word for the web on a Mac computer, press Control+Period (.) to start.
Go to the access keys for the ribbonTo go directly to a tab on the ribbon, press one of the following access keys:
Top of page Use SearchTo find an option or perform an action quickly, use the Search text field. To learn more about the Search feature, go to Find what you need with Microsoft Search in Office. Note: Depending on the version of Office you are using, the Search text field at the top of the app window might be called Tell Me instead. Both offer a largely similar experience, but some options and search results can vary.
Work in the ribbon tabs and menusThe following shortcuts can save time when you work with the ribbon tabs and ribbon menus.
Top of page Navigate the document
Top of page Edit and format the document
Top of page See alsoWord help center Basic tasks using a screen reader with Word Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Word What is the blinking thing in Word?The insertion point—also called a cursor—is the blinking line in your document that indicates where text is inserted when you type.
What do you call the blinking vertical line in MS Word?The insertion point is the blinking vertical line in your document. It indicates where you can enter text on the page. You can use the insertion point in a variety of ways.
Why is the cursor blinking in Microsoft Word?In Microsoft Word like applications, the cursor becomes a vertical bar that blinks to indicate where you are working in the document. But a cursor that is blinking/flashes rapidly or flickers may indicate some problem with the mouse or mouse drivers, video problems or Anti-virus Software and Other Issues.
What is the typing cursor called?The text cursor is a vertical line (|). Also called a "caret," "i-cursor" or "I-beam," it may or may not blink.
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