Ctrl+Shift+Left/Right

Select by Word on Windows

Windows · Text & File Editing
ActionSelect by Word
ShortcutCtrl + Shift + Left / Right
PlatformWindows
CategoryText & File Editing

About this shortcut

On Windows, you can select by word with Ctrl + Shift + Left / Right. Extends the selection one word at a time. It sits in the Text & File Editing group and is one of the Windows shortcuts people look up most, so it is worth committing to memory — it works the same way across almost every app that follows standard Windows conventions.

How to use it

1

Get ready

Open the app or screen where you want to select by word.

2

Press the keys

Press Ctrl + Shift + Left / Right.

3

Done

Extends the selection one word at a time.

More Text & File Editing shortcuts

Bold Text
Ctrl+B
Italic Text
Ctrl+I
Underline Text
Ctrl+U
Rename File
F2
New Folder
Ctrl+Shift+N
Delete Permanently
Shift+Delete
Move Cursor by Word
Ctrl+Left/Right
Select to Start / End of Line
Shift+Home/End