Murray Hill Neighborhood Association

Computer Tutor

Feb 21, 2001

Two years ago at three well attended classes given by MHNA, Joe Di Domenico and Barry Tesser gave an introduction to the Internet. In this issue we continue with some hints on how to be more efficient with your word processor. Although the shortcuts mentioned pertain to IBM-compatible PCs, Mac users can find similar shortcuts by looking through their Help menus under shortcuts.

Take Control of your Word Processor with Cut, Copy and Paste

These are three very useful commands used in editing. They allow you to move or copy selections of text consisting of single words, complete sentences, entire paragraphs, or even whole sections of large bodies of work. Rather than using your mouse to accomplish these, you?’ll find that keyboard shortcuts can be much more efficient.

Let?’s begin by explaining the individual steps: selecting (or highlighting) the text you want to cut or copy, cutting or copying it, and pasting it into its new location.
?¨ When you cut text, a copy of the text is made and the text is removed (cut) from its original location; you then paste the copied text into a new location (or simply discard it, if it?’s not needed.)
?¨ When you copy text, a copy is made to be placed elsewhere, and the text remains in its original location.
?¨ You then paste the copy of it into another location.

To repeat, the steps are:
1. Select the text.
2. Cut or copy the text.
3. Paste the text in the new location.

Selecting Text

Position the mouse cursor at the beginning of the text you want to select. Click and hold down the left mouse button, and then drag the cursor across the text you want to select. You?’ll see the selected text appearing in reverse highlight (usually white text on a black background) as you select it.

When you reach the end of your selection, release the mouse button. It?’s important at this point not to click the mouse button again on the document itself, or to use the arrow keys, or you?’ll lose your selection and have to start again.

Cutting or Copying Text using Keyboard Shortcuts

Once you have your text selected, the quickest way to cut or copy the selected text is right from the keyboard, using the following shortcuts:
?¨ Control+X will cut the text from this location
?¨ Control+C will make a copy of the text (leaving the original in this location)

Note: You use the Control key (Ctrl) the same way you use the Shift key when you want to create a capital letter: You hold down the Control key, and then type an X (to cut) or a C (to copy) the text.

Pasting the Cut or Copied Text

Once you?’ve made your cut or your copy, you can then use the mouse (or the arrow keys) to position the cursor where you want the cut or copied text to be inserted. Click the mouse button at the new location, then use the keyboard shortcut to paste:
?¨ Control+V will paste the text into its new location. (Hold down the Control key, and type a V.)

It is also possible to use the Toolbar and the Edit Menu to accomplish these cut/copy/paste actions, but if you?’re a touch-typist you?’ll especially like the keyboard shortcuts because you don?’t have to remove your hands from the keyboard to make them work.

Try them! Once you get used to using them, you?’ll never go back to chasing your mouse for these ac-
tions!