By learning several common Mac shortcuts, you can save time and even make your Mac feels faster than it already is by using the keyboard rather than the mouse and the menu system in each app. You’ll need to do a little memorizing, but most of that memorizing is usable in more than one app. Seriously, once you’ve learned these keyboard shortcuts, you won’t go back to using the mouse and menu bar.
Mac Keyboard Shortcuts: Writing Papers and Working with Documents
Writing papers can be time-consuming. However, there are (a vast) range of Mac shortcuts and commands that make life a little easier for any would-be essayist.
Apple introduced a feature in macOS called Shortcuts. In that case, Apple is talking about computer automation by making little recipes which contain a series of steps to perform a task. In our case here, we’re talking about keyboard shortcuts. Basically, this article explains certain keyboard presses that perform the same function as going to the menu bar with your mouse.
Here’s how to cut, copy and paste:
- Command + C: copies any highlighted content to the Mac’s ClipboardCommand + V: pastes the Clipboard’s contentsCommand + Shift + V: pastes without formattingCommand + X: cuts (i.e. erases) any highlighted content and copies it to the Mac’s clipboardCommand + A: selects all items or content on a page
Here are Mac shortcuts that deal more specifically with formatting or editing your text, although not all of them work with every word-processing app.
- Command + B: bold letteringCommand + I: italicsCommand + U: underlineOption + Delete: delete word on left of cursorFn + Delete: forward deleteControl + K: delete all text between cursor and end of paragraph or lineCommand + Control + Space bar: open Character Viewer window (which lets you choose and type emojis)Command + K: add a hyperlink to highlighted text
Hunting for particular words in your document or for definitions or misspellings? Here are the Mac commands you need.
Note: some of these shortcuts are different for Google Docs and Microsoft Word, which occasionally have their own specific key combinations (noted below where available).
- Command + F: find specific words in your document
- Command + semi-colon (;): find misspelled words. Note: in Google Docs you should press Command + apostrophe (’). In Word, you press Alt + F7 (although the F keys must have been previously enabled as function keys by going to System Preferences > Keyboard)
- Command + Control + D: display definition of highlighted word. Note: in Google Docs you should press Command + Shift + Y
- Command + Shift + colon (:): open the Spelling and Grammar window. Note: this shortcut isn’t available in Google Docs, while for Word you should press F7
Here are several Mac keyboard shortcuts related to undoing actions and jumping to particular parts of your work:
- Command + Z: undo previous actionCommand + Shift + Z: redo the previously undone actionFn + Left/Right Arrow: jump to beginning/end of documentCommand + Up/Down Arrow: move cursor to beginning/end of document. Note: not available on Microsoft WordCommand + Left/Right Arrow: move cursor to beginning/end of line
And finally, if you’ve finished a writing session, here are three Apple shortcuts that deal with saving, printing and opening new documents:
- Command + S: save your document (do this often even while writing)Command + O: open a document saved to your MacCommand + P: print your document
Mac Keyboard Shortcuts: Navigating Web Pages and Apps
Writing papers and reports is one thing, but no list of the best Mac shortcuts would be complete without detailing the commands that can be used to navigate between web pages and apps. These are the kinds of shortcuts that prove useful when conducting the research and reading necessary for writing a paper, or when opening additional apps to help you finish your work.
It should be noted that these shortcuts work with all major browsers (e.g. Chrome, Safari, Firefox).
- Command + T: open a new tab on your browserCommand + Shift + T: reopen the last tab you closed (great if you accidentally close a tab)Command + N: open a new windowCommand + W: close the current windowCommand + Shift + W: close all windows of the app you’re using (e.g. if you’re using a web browser, this shortcut will close every window)Command + M: minimize the current window
Mac Keyboard Shortcuts: Managing Files and Folders
If you save lots of essays and documents to your Mac, you may want to save them to particular folders, as a way of making them more findable. Here are a batch of Mac shortcuts that relate to folders:
- Command + Shift + N: create a new folder when in the Finder appCommand + Shift + D: open the Desktop folder (when in Finder)Command + Option + L: open Downloads folder (when in Finder)Command + Shift + O: open Documents folder (when in Finder)Command + Shift + G: open the Go to Folder window (when in Finder), which lets you find a specific folder by typing its nameCommand + Shift + H: open the user’s Home folder (when in Finder)Command + Shift + F: open All My Files
Mac Keyboard Shortcuts: Handy System Shortcuts
While none of the Mac commands below relate specifically to writing papers or managing your work, they’re all useful time-savers in one way or another:
Command + Shift + Question mark (?): open Help menu of the app you’re usingOption + Shift + Volume Up/Down: adjust the volume in smaller incrementsCommand + Shift + Delete: empty your Mac’s Trash. Press Option + Shift + Command + Delete to empty the Trash without having to confirmCommand + Shift + 3: take a screenshot of your entire screen. Press Command + Shift + 4 to take a partial screenshotCommand + Mousepad click: right-clickCommand + Option + Esc: brings up a menu to help you force an app to quitCommand + Tab: open the app switcher. Keep Command held down and press Tab repeatedly to scroll through apps. Release both buttons to confirm selectionCommand + Space bar: open Spotlight search bar
How do I see all the available Mac shortcuts in an app?
Macs don’t come equipped with this capability, but a handy app named CheatSheet does. After you download and install CheatSheet, open any app and press and hold the Command key to see a list of all the active shortcuts for that particular app.
How do I make shortcuts for an app on a Mac?
To create an app shortcut, select the Apple logo > System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts. In the left panel, select App Shortcut, then select Add (+) and choose an app (or all apps) in the menu. In the pop-up window, name the shortcut and enter the exact keyboard combination for it, then select Add (+).
Macs don’t come equipped with this capability, but a handy app named CheatSheet does. After you download and install CheatSheet, open any app and press and hold the Command key to see a list of all the active shortcuts for that particular app.
To create an app shortcut, select the Apple logo > System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts. In the left panel, select App Shortcut, then select Add (+) and choose an app (or all apps) in the menu. In the pop-up window, name the shortcut and enter the exact keyboard combination for it, then select Add (+).
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