Productivity Reference

Keyboard Shortcuts

A keyboard shortcut is a combination of keys that performs a specific action. The shortcuts typically involve one or more modifier keys such as Ctrl, Alt, or Command combined with another key usually a letter, number, or punctuation symbol. By using keyboard shortcuts, you can bypass navigating through menus and dialog boxes in software applications. Tasks that would normally require multiple clicks with a mouse can be accomplished swiftly using shortcuts, and you will be less relying on mouse movements. Professionals who use keyboard shortcuts efficiently perform repetitive actions more quickly. Most software allows customization of keyboard shortcuts. Users can assign their preferred shortcuts for specific functions. Additionally, each application often has its own unique set of shortcuts. We have crafted shortcuts for most commonly used applications across multiple platforms.

Practical Notes

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Keyboard shortcuts are easiest to adopt when you focus on repeated actions instead of trying to memorize an entire application at once.

Start with frequent tasks

Learn the commands you use every hour: search, save, switch tabs, copy, paste, undo, and open command menus.

Mind the platform

The same action may use Ctrl on Windows or Linux and Command on macOS.

Practice in context

Shortcuts stick faster when you use them during real work instead of reading a list once.

Shortcut	Application	Action
`Ctrl`+`Backspace`	MS Outlook (New)	Delete the word to the left of the cursor, but not the space before the word.
`Esc`	MS Outlook (New)	Deselect all items.
`Esc`	MS Outlook (New)	Discard contact.
`Shift`+`?`	MS Outlook (New)	Display the list of People keyboard shortcuts.
`0135`	MS Outlook (New)	Double dagger symbol or diesis ‡
`0171`	MS Outlook (New)	Double left angled quotation mark («)
`0187`	MS Outlook (New)	Double right angled quotation mark (»)
`0200`	MS Outlook (New)	È
`0232`	MS Outlook (New)	è
`0201`	MS Outlook (New)	É
`0233`	MS Outlook (New)	é
`0202`	MS Outlook (New)	Ê
`0234`	MS Outlook (New)	ê
`0203`	MS Outlook (New)	Ë
`0235`	MS Outlook (New)	ë
`Shift`+`E`	MS Outlook (New)	Edit a contact or contact list.
`0150`	MS Outlook (New)	Em dash —
`0151`	MS Outlook (New)	En dash –
`0223`	MS Outlook (New)	Eszett or ss (ß)
`0128`	MS Outlook (New)	Euro sign €
`→`	MS Outlook (New)	Expand the selected section.
`0170`	MS Outlook (New)	Feminine ordinal indicator (ª)
`Insert`	MS Outlook (New)	Flag a message or mark a flagged message as complete.
`Ctrl`+`F`	MS Outlook (New)	Forward a selected message.
`Ctrl`+`F`	MS Outlook (New)	Forward message.
`0131`	MS Outlook (New)	Function sign ƒ
`Ctrl`+`2`	MS Outlook (New)	Go to calendar.
`Ctrl`+`1`	MS Outlook (New)	Go to Mail.
`Ctrl`+`3`	MS Outlook (New)	Go to People.
`End`	MS Outlook (New)	Go to the bottom of a conversation or message.
`Ctrl`+`2`	MS Outlook (New)	Go to the calendar.
`Ctrl`+`>`	MS Outlook (New)	Go to the next message.
`Ctrl+`	MS Outlook (New)	Go to the previous message.
`Home`	MS Outlook (New)	Go to the top of a conversation or message.
`0204`	MS Outlook (New)	Ì
`0236`	MS Outlook (New)	ì
`0205`	MS Outlook (New)	Í
`0237`	MS Outlook (New)	í
`0206`	MS Outlook (New)	Î
`0238`	MS Outlook (New)	î
`0207`	MS Outlook (New)	Ï
`0239`	MS Outlook (New)	ï
`Ctrl`+`K`	MS Outlook (New)	Insert a hyperlink.
`0161`	MS Outlook (New)	Inverted exclamation mark (¡)
`0191`	MS Outlook (New)	Inverted question mark (¿)
`0229`	MS Outlook (New)	Lowercase a with an overring, A-ring (å)
`0230`	MS Outlook (New)	Lowercase ae diphthong or lowercase ash (æ)
`0231`	MS Outlook (New)	Lowercase c-cedilla (ç)
`0240`	MS Outlook (New)	Lowercase eth (ð)
`0248`	MS Outlook (New)	Lowercase o with a stroke (ø)

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Start with frequent tasks

Mind the platform

Practice in context

Related References