The CTRL + ALT Mastery: Unlocking the Most Underrated MS Word Shortcuts

For the longest time, I thought I knew everything there was to know about MS Word shortcuts. I had mastered the basics—Ctrl + C for copy, Ctrl + V for paste, and Ctrl + Z for undo. But as I started working on longer documents, I realized that my hands kept leaving the keyboard too often. That’s when I went deep into the world of Ctrl + Alt shortcuts, and honestly, it was a game-changer.

One of the first shortcuts that completely transformed my workflow was Ctrl + Alt + V (Paste Special). Normally, when pasting text from a website or another document, the formatting gets all messed up. But with this shortcut, I can choose to paste as plain text, keeping my document clean without unwanted styles. It saves so much time compared to manually fixing fonts and spacing.

Another underrated shortcut that I now use daily is Ctrl + Alt + 1, 2, or 3 (Apply Heading Styles). Writing reports, articles, or even long drafts, I need proper structure. Instead of manually selecting text and applying a heading style, I just press Ctrl + Alt + 1 for a big heading, Ctrl + Alt + 2 for a subheading, and Ctrl + Alt + 3 for a smaller section title. It keeps everything neat and easy to navigate.

And then there’s Ctrl + Alt + M (Insert Comment)—an absolute lifesaver for editing. Whenever I need to leave a note for myself or give feedback on a draft, I don’t waste time clicking the "Review" tab. I just hit Ctrl + Alt + M, type my comment, and move on. It’s perfect for collaborative work or even self-editing.

When I’m formatting, Ctrl + Alt + K (Insert Hyperlink) comes in handy. Whether I’m adding sources to an article or linking references in a document, this shortcut instantly opens the hyperlink dialog box. No need to click through menus—I just paste the link and keep working.

One of my favorite discoveries was Ctrl + Alt + F (Insert Footnote) and Ctrl + Alt + D (Insert Endnote). Academic writers and researchers will love this because it lets you add footnotes without taking your hands off the keyboard. It keeps citations properly formatted without disrupting your writing flow.

Another hidden gem is Ctrl + Alt + Shift + S (Open Styles Pane). If you’ve ever struggled with formatting inconsistencies, this shortcut opens the style settings instantly. From here, I can modify fonts, adjust line spacing, and create a polished document without manually fixing every section.

One thing that always annoyed me was adjusting line spacing. I’d constantly click the toolbar to switch between single and double spacing. Then I found Ctrl + Alt + 1 (Single Spacing), Ctrl + Alt + 2 (Double Spacing), and Ctrl + Alt + 5 (1.5 Line Spacing). Now, I can adjust spacing instantly without breaking my focus.

And for those who format books or manuscripts, Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Page Down (Select to End of Document) is a must-know. Instead of scrolling endlessly, this shortcut highlights everything from the cursor to the end, letting me apply formatting changes in one go.

Discovering Ctrl + Alt shortcuts made me realize how much time I was wasting before. Once I started using them, my hands rarely left the keyboard, and my workflow became faster, smoother, and more efficient. If you’ve never explored these shortcuts, give them a try—you’ll be surprised at how much more productive you can be.