The shortcuts that matter most
- Ctrl+H
Find and replace text Word
Swap a name, date or job title throughout a letter or contract template in one go.
- Ctrl+Shift+E
Turn Track Changes on or off Word
Turn on Track Changes before editing policies so every change is visible.
- Ctrl+Alt+M
Insert a new comment Word
Leave a comment on a clause for a manager or legal to review.
- Ctrl+Shift+V
Paste text only Word
Paste text from emails and websites without bringing their formatting with it.
- Ctrl+Spacebar
Remove manual character formatting Word
Strip stray fonts and colours so documents match your house style.
- Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar
Insert a non-breaking space Word
Keep names, dates and amounts together on one line in formal letters.
- Ctrl+Enter
Insert a page break Word
Start a new page cleanly for appendices and signature pages.
- Ctrl+;
Insert the current date Excel
Stamp today's date in an absence log or starters tracker.
- Ctrl+Shift+L
Toggle filters for the current range Excel
Filter a staff list by team, location or start date.
- Ctrl+E
Fill in data automatically with Flash Fill Excel
Split full names into first and last names with Flash Fill.
- Ctrl+T
Create a table from the selected range Excel
Turn a staff list into a table that sorts and filters properly.
- Ctrl+R
Reply to the selected email Outlook
Reply to a query quickly and move on.
- Ctrl+U
Mark the selected conversation as unread Outlook
Mark an email unread so you come back to it later.
- Ctrl+Shift+A
Create a new appointment (classic Outlook) Outlook
Create a new appointment for an interview or review (classic Outlook).
How to learn them: pick three a week, use them every day until they're automatic, then add three more. Practice mode makes it stick faster.