Useful Keyboard Shortcuts for Authors

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As an author, you’re on the computer a lot, and keyboard shortcuts can save you just a little bit of time here and there. That saved time can add up! Of course, you likely already know the keyboard shortcuts for copy and paste, but do you know these additional commands? If not, try adding these useful keyboard shortcuts for authors to those you already use regularly.

Keyboard Shortcuts in a Word Processor

Center text

Mac: cmd + e

PC: ctrl + e

Cut Text

Mac: cmd + x

PC: ctrl + x

Keyboard Shortcuts for multiple programs

Switch between desktops

Mac: ctrl + right arrow (left arrow to go the other way) (you can also swipe left and right with three fingers on the trackpad)

PC: windows key + ctrl + right arrow (left arrow to go the other way)

Switch between programs

Mac: cmd + tab (add shift to go the other direction)

Windows: alt + tab (add shift to go the other direction)

Switch between windows in the same program

Mac: cmd + `

PC: alt + `

Close the window or tab

Mac: cmd + w

PC: ctrl + w

Quit the application

Mac: cmd + q

PC: ctrl + q

Save

Mac: cmd + s

PC: ctrl + s

Save as

Mac: cmd + shift + s

PC: ctrl +shift + s

Keyboard Shortcuts for a Browser

Switch to the specified tab, counting from the left

Mac: cmd + 1 (through 8)

PC: ctrl+1 (through 8)

Switch to the last tab

Mac: cmd + 9

PC: ctrl + 9

Switch to the next tab

Mac: ctrl + tab (also, cmd + shift + ]) (for the first, add shift to go the other direction; for the second, use [ instead of ] to go the other direction)

PC: ctrl + tab

Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows Explorer or Finder

Move to trash

Mac: cmd + delete (the delete button on a Mac is in the same spot as the backspace button on a PC, so if you are using a keyboard with a separate delete button, make sure to use the bigger “delete” button, which acts the way a backspace button works on Windows)

PC: delete

Delete Permanently

Mac: option + cmd + delete

PC: shift+ delete

Move to folder one level up

Mac: cmd + up arrow

PC: alt + up arrow

What keyboard shortcuts do you find useful as an author? Let us know in the comments below!