Computer Short Cuts

Ctrl+F: If you ever need to locate a word, phrase or sentence online, or in a document or anywhere else, then this is the shortcut for you. Pressing Ctrl+F means you get a little search bar that helps you find any word or phrase on a page. What’s more, the search takes you instantly to the location so that you can see the information you are after. For multiple results, you can then use Ctrl+G to scroll through the list.

Ctrl+L: Utilise this shortcut the cursor will relocate to the address bar, ready for you to type in a new address or a search for google to compute . I use this shortcut a lot! 

Ctrl+S: This basically saves the document you’re working on. Simple. I utilise this a lot in Word, even though i have an autosave feature on there. We have all lost documents to crashes in the past, so i liked to be very cautious and press this shortcut every few minutes. It gives me peace of mind. 

Ctrl+T and Ctrl+Shift+T: This shortcut opens a new tab, allowing you to then start searching. What is just as useful, if not more so is that if you press Ctrl+Shift+T, you can reopen a tab you have just accidentally closed!

More Options

Ctrl+Shift+V: Ctrl+V to paste is well known as a way to paste content onto a document, but the process is not always smooth. For example, if you’re copying text from a website, it may copy over the original font, links, and other stuff you would rather do without. To avoid this, many apps let you use Ctrl+Shift+V to paste a block of text without links and other garbage. Thus you don’t have to waste time changing fonts and deleting extra content you did not require. It is not always 100% reliable. But is worth giving it a try when you are in such a situation. On a Mac you may find Command+Shift+V works on some sites, while Option+Shift+Command+V is necessary on others.

Ctrl+Arrow Keys: A great way to move around a large document using just your keyboard. Use the left and right move the cursor between words, while up and down move it between paragraphs. Hold shift as well to select text rather than just moving about. On a Mac, substitute the use Control instead of Command.

Computer Short Cuts – Shape Your Own Shortcuts

Many may not realise that you can make your own shortcuts for the actions you do the most often! Often, the key strokes you do the most often do not have an automatic shortcut key assigned to them. Or the existing one may be hard for you to do, and you want to devise an easier one instead.

Rebuid individual keys with SharpKeys: If you’re just looking to remap one key to another, SharpKeys is the easiest thing for your needs. (On a Mac, you can remap a few modifier keys from System Preferences > Keyboard > Modifier Keys.)

Look for in-app keyboard shortcut customization: Some apps—like Photoshop or MediaMonkey—have a whole page of preferences dedicated to keyboard shortcuts. Add your own shortcuts to menu items that do not already have shortcuts assigned. Or you can alter ones that already exist, allowing you to personalise your experience for maximum ease of use and efficiency. In a Mac, go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts, click App Shortcuts in the sidebar. Then you may click the plus sign to devise a new keyboard shortcut for any menu item you encounter in your apps.

Computer Short Cuts – Entirely new shortcuts

If you have a keyboard from a company like Logitech or Razer, it may come with software that allows you to create or “record” macros for custom key combinations. If not, you consider the slightly more complicated AutoHotkey, which is a scripting language that can turn anything into a keyboard shortcut. However, this requires patience, as you must first learn how to create these shortcuts using the language. But it is something anyone can master in time.