Creating and modifying keyboard shortcuts in MS Word 2021

MS Word 2021 offers a wide range of keyboard shortcuts that can save you time and streamline your workflow. You can create your own custom keyboard shortcuts or modify existing ones to suit your needs. In this article, we will walk you through the process of creating and modifying keyboard shortcuts in MS Word 2021.

To create a new keyboard shortcut, follow these steps:

1. Click on the “File” tab in the ribbon and select “Options”.
2. In the “Word Options” dialog box, select “Customize Ribbon”.
3. Click on the “Keyboard Shortcuts: Customize” button at the bottom of the window.
4. In the “Customize Keyboard” dialog box, select the category and command you want to assign a keyboard shortcut to.
5. Click in the “Press new shortcut key” box and press the keys you want to use for the new shortcut. Word will alert you if the combination you’ve selected is already in use.
6. Click “Assign” to assign the shortcut to the selected command, then click “Close” to close the dialog box.

To modify an existing keyboard shortcut, follow these steps:

1. Follow steps 1-3 above to open the “Customize Keyboard” dialog box.
2. In the “Current keys” box, select the keyboard shortcut you want to modify.
3. Modify the keys in the “Press new shortcut key” box to create the new shortcut.
4. Click “Assign” to assign the new shortcut to the selected command, then click “Close” to close the dialog box.

Keep in mind that some keyboard shortcuts are already in use, so be sure to check for conflicts before creating new ones. You can also view and print a list of all keyboard shortcuts in MS Word by clicking on the “File” tab, selecting “Options,” and then selecting “Customize Ribbon.”

In addition to customizing keyboard shortcuts, you can also modify the behavior of existing shortcuts. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click on the “File” tab in the ribbon and select “Options”.
2. In the “Word Options” dialog box, select “Customize Ribbon”.
3. Click on the “Keyboard Shortcuts: Customize” button at the bottom of the window.
4. In the “Customize Keyboard” dialog box, select the category and command you want to modify the behavior of.
5. Click on the “Modify” button.
6. Select the desired behavior from the list of options, then click “OK” to save the changes.

Customizing keyboard shortcuts can save you time and improve your productivity in MS Word 2021. With just a few clicks, you can create your own custom shortcuts or modify existing ones to fit your specific needs.