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Using Keyboard Shortcuts in Excel

Excel 2010 NL tips

Using keyboard shortcuts has many advantages. The main ones are working faster and helping to prevent RSI complaints. With the following method, you’ll learn how to use them effectively.

Keyboard Shortcuts Excel 2010

Shortcut, Function Key, or Key Combination

We use these terms interchangeably because users search using all of them. Technically, a function key is F1 through F12 on your keyboard. We mostly use “keyboard shortcut” and “key combination.”

You probably already know these shortcuts:

  • CTRL+P: Print
  • CTRL+C: Copy
  • CTRL+V: Paste

But what is the shortcut for saving a document under a new name (Save As)?

That is >> F12

Shortcuts for Almost Everything

Excel has a shortcut for almost every task. But there’s no point in memorizing them all.

Decide Which Ones You Want to Use

Since everyone uses different Excel features and knows different shortcuts, we’ve created a handy Excel tool with the most commonly used shortcuts. You can select the ones you don’t know yet but want to learn. This gives you a compact list to hang on your screen or place next to your keyboard.

How to Learn Shortcuts

  • Pick from the list the shortcuts you use daily
  • Choose one action per week and perform it using the shortcut
  • You’ll notice you work much faster
  • It also reduces mouse use, which helps prevent RSI

We’ve worked out some shortcuts using examples, so you can see if they are useful for you. We also include combined tasks that use a sequence of shortcuts and key combinations to complete an entire action.

Example

Course: Learn and Use Keyboard Shortcuts

Are you convinced of the benefits of shortcuts, but having trouble putting them into practice? That’s exactly why we’ve developed an online course to teach you step-by-step how to use keyboard shortcuts.

  • Follow at your own pace
  • Track your progress
  • You have one year to complete it
  • Or recommend it at work