21, Handy Keyboard Shortcuts and Alt Codes for Digital Journalists
When it comes to completing online projects—rather it’s on a program or the web—I am a huge fan of keyboard shortcuts and alt codes so as to work more efficiently. These are the top keyboard shortcuts and alt codes that I use most often and thought they would come in handy for those who vastly work in the online world.
21 Keyboard Shortcuts and Alt Codes You Should Know:
- ALT+0149
Creates a bullet for a list when rich-text formatting is unavailable: •
- ALT+0150
Creates an ‘en’ dash, which is used to represent a span of dates, numbers or time: –
- ALT+0151
Creates an ’em’ dash, which is used to create a strong break in a sentence and can replace commas, parentheses or colons: —
- ALT+0169
Creates copyright symbol: ©
- SHIFT+TAB
Work your way backwards/up in selecting clickable areas on a page, such as input boxes in a form.
- SHIFT+Home (or End)
I use this if I’m writing in Word or WordPress. If you’re at the end of a sentence and want to go to the beginning of the same line you’re on, click SHIFT+Home, and it’ll take you to the beginning of that line (same with SHIFT+End)
- CTRL+A
Selects all of the text in a document, web page, etc.
- CTRL+Z and CTRL+Y
CTRL+Z undos an action; and CTRL+Y redoes an action.
- CTRL+X, CTRL+C and CTRL+V
These are probably the most well-known shortcuts, but in case you are new to shortcuts: CTRL+X cuts text, figures/images, etc.; CTRL+C copies text, figures/images, etc.; and CTRL+V pastes text, figures/images, etc., that were copied or cut.
- CTRL+T, CTRL+N and CTRL+W
These control your web browser: CTRL+T creates a new tab in an already open window; CTRL+N creates a new browser window; and CTRL+W closes the tabs one-by-one.
- CTRL+U
More so for web developers, this shortcut opens up the View Page Source option to view the code on the backend of a page (F12 also does this).
- CTRL++ and CTRL+- (CTRL+Mousewheel Up and CTRL+Mousewheel down)
If you want to zoom in on a webpage, hit CTRL + ‘Plus Sign’ or CTRL+Mousewheel Up; and if you’d like to zoom out, CTRL + ‘Dash’ or CTRL+Mousewheel down.
- CTRL+Home and CTRL+End
Takes you to the very top or very bottom of a page, document, etc.
- CTRL+F
Browser function to find something in a page (F3 also does this).
- CTRL+D
Create a bookmark of the webpage you’re currently on.
- CTRL+Pageup and CTRL+Page down
Switches between open browser tabs in a window.
- CTRL+R
Refreshes the webpage (F5 also does this).
- CTRL+J
Opens your online downloads window.
- CTRL+K and CTRL+L
CTRL+K allows you to search in your search bar; and CTRL+L selects the text/URL in the search bar (F6 also does this).
- F5
Opens your online downloads window.
- F11
Makes your browser window fullscreen.
Other handy resources:
- 47 Keyboard Shortcuts That Work in All Web Browsers from How-To Geek.
- Windows – Alt Key Numeric Codes from PennState.
- And for the Mac Users: Accent Codes for the Macintosh.
May your online projects run more smoothly with these awesome shortcuts and codes! Do you have one that you use all the time? Share it in the comments!