Time-saving tricks using your keyboard

I spend hours and hours (and hours) online every week looking for the latest in tech for my national radio show, podcasts and, of course, newsletter.

I rounded up eight browser keyboard shortcuts I use so you can spend less time clicking around for the right button, too.

4 if you’re always in Word or Google Docs

These tricks make work (or writing the novel you always wanted to get to) so much faster and easier.

  • Just the text: Drop in text from somewhere else — without all the formatting coming with it. Use Ctrl + Shift + V to paste in whatever text you’ve copied, stripped completely of the source formatting.
  • Swift selections: Make sure your cursor is before (or after) the text you’d like to select, then hold down Shift and use the left or right arrows to expand your selection, one character at a time. Ctrl + Shift + the left or right arrows will allow you to select the remainder of a line.
  • Get in the mode: Need to track your changes? Switch between editing modes by holding down Ctrl + Shift + Alt, then tap X to suggest changes, Z to edit directly or C to just view the document, not edit it.
  • Do it in style: Easily change your text formatting by holding down Ctrl + B for bold, Ctrl + I for italics and Ctrl + U for underlining. You already knew that? OK, but what about holding down Shift + X for strikethrough text, Shift + . (period) to superscript something and Shift + , (comma) for subscripting? I thought so! 

3 tricks for tabs

These genuine timesavers work in most popular browsers, including Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari.

  • Closing time: Hit Ctrl + W (Windows) or Cmd + W (macOS) to shut down the browser tab you’re currently looking at. If you close a tab by accident, use Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + T (macOS) to bring it back.
  • Tab cycling: On Windows and macOS, you can use Ctrl + Tab to scroll through open tabs (yeah, all 200 of them). Hold down Shift as well to go in the opposite direction.
  • Turn over a new tab: Hit Ctrl + T (Windows) or Cmd + T (macOS) on your keyboard to open a new tab and jump straight to it. If you want a new window, use Ctrl + N (Windows) or Cmd + N (macOS).

2 ways to stay in the flow

  • Keep scrolling, scrolling, scrolling: Engrossed in something online? Tap the spacebar to scroll down the page and keep reading without looking away. Shift + spacebar takes you back in the other direction.
  • Eyes on the prize: Follow an interesting link without losing focus while reading. Hold down Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (macOS) when you click on a web link to open it in a new tab while you stay on your current tab. Add the Shift key to open a link in a new tab and jump straight to it. 

2 ways to re-trace your steps

  • Follow the breadcrumbs: You know those “back” and “forward” buttons in your browser? You can do the same with your keyboard, no clicking required — hold down Alt (Windows) or Cmd (macOS), then tap the left or right arrow button to explore your browsing history in the current tab.
  • Save your page: Press Ctrl + D (Windows) or Cmd + D (macOS) to bookmark the current webpage so you can get back to it later. Your browser will throw up a dialog box you can use to sort the bookmark into a folder. 

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Talk techy to me: Get your work done faster with this pro tip

AI still has a long way to go, but I’ll tell you one thing: Writing with your voice is getting a heck of a lot easier.

Maybe you dictate text messages, but there’s so much more you can do if you start dictating for work, too. I’ll show you how, plus I’ve got some tips to make your spoken words shine on the page.

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Stop creating the same proposal from scratch: In Google Docs, create a template with placeholders like “[client name]” or “[date].” To reuse it, go to File > Make a copy. In Word, create your doc, then select File > Save As > Word Template. Open it for future proposals, fill in the placeholders and save it like normal. Genius.

Teamwork makes the dream work: Copilot Pages is Microsoft’s answer to Google Docs. Ask Copilot for research, drop the responses into a new page, then edit with your colleagues in real time. Try it now if you use Microsoft 365 Copilot ($30 per month); it’s coming free for Copilot customers with Microsoft Entra accounts soon.

20 Google Search tricks, hidden utilities, games and freebies

Remember when talking to yourself would bring weird looks? In the era of earbuds, it’s totally normal. Using your voice can make an annoying task like writing up a letter or outline a lot easier. Try these dictation tricks in Microsoft Word or Google Docs that make it much better.

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Skip the keyboard: How to dictate in Microsoft Word and Google Docs

Old science fiction shows depicting the future made a big deal out of voice control. Much of it came true! Decades later, we can ask questions and control devices with our voice, thanks to virtual assistants and smart home technology.

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🔎 FYI, Google users: Next time you need help, there’s a search box where you can type what you want to do in everyday language. It sure beats digging around in the tool menus. In Sheets, you can type Remove column, or, in a Doc, try Who last edited this? Handy!

🔒 Password-protect a document: In Microsoft Office or Google Docs, click the Help button in the menu bar. Click Help again, then type in Encrypt with password, and your program of choice will walk you through the steps. So easy.

New in Google Docs: Tabs. They’re in the left sidebar and take the place of the old header system, which wasn’t all that good. Click the + (plus sign) next to the document tabs to make a new one. Think of it like a digital table of contents. Here’s a list of tips and tricks.

Google Docs quick tip: Hit Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + C to check the word count for your current document. The pop-up also has a checkbox to show the word count on screen permanently.

📊 Secret you need to know: If you use Google Docs or Microsoft OneDrive, you can go back in time to see earlier versions of your work (or someone else’s). In Google Docs, head to File > Version History > See Version History. In OneDrive, it’s under File > Info > Version History. Bonus tip: If you want to know who does what in real time in a Google Doc, turn on the Track Changes option.

Drip-drop: Google’s latest Pixel feature drop is here, bringing Gemini Nano AI to Pixel 8 and Pixel 8A users. Update if you have a new Pixel! So far, they’ve said Nano AI will summarize voice recordings and then export them to Google Docs. Cool but, uh, what else?

Your eyes only: Make sure someone can’t open a doc on your PC. In MS Office and Google Docs, click the Help button in the menu bar. Click Help again, then type in Encrypt with Password. Your program of choice will walk you through the steps.

Because you’re mine, I walk the line: You just sang that, didn’t you? Say you’re editing with a group and need to reference line by line. Google Docs can save you the headache. Go to Tools > Line numbers > check Show Line Numbers, and you’re all set. Sweet!

Google Docs trick: This one’s perfect for when you want to share a doc as a template, but you don’t want other people messing around in your file. Click on Share, then change the link settings to Anyone with the link and choose Editor. Before you hit Send, replace the text in the URL that says “edit” with “template/preview.” It’ll force recipients to make their own copies and edits, leaving your original under your full control. So cool.

Save yourself some time — Google Docs will do it for you. Open up your document, then go to Tools > Translate document. It’ll create a translated copy in the language you choose. Adios, copying and pasting blocks of text.

WORD UP: You’re typing away and realize you’ve had Caps Lock enabled. Ugh. In Microsoft Word, hit Shift + F3. You’ll shift between all caps, first letter capitalized and no caps. Too bad this trick doesn’t work in Google Docs.

You can count on me: There’s a new option in Google Docs to display your file’s word count as you type. Hit Tools > Word count > then check the box next to Display word count while typing. Pro tip: Highlight a sentence or paragraph to see how many words are in just that section.

That's embarrassing! New tools to keep you from making silly grammar mistakes

Nobody’s perfect, and mistakes happen despite all the time we spend typing emails, text messages, posting on social media and writing in word processors. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t work on improving your writing habits.

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Need to liven up those Google Docs? How to find and use free templates

Creating an impressive online document isn’t just about the content. How it’s presented matters, too. Strong visual elements will garner undivided attention and make your presentation memorable – which is precisely what you want.

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