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General Search Tips & Strategies

Commonly Used Keyboard Shortcuts - PC

Searching

Find

Searches the active webpage for a term or phrase. Also useable in programs such as Google Productivity Apps (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe Suites (Acrobat), etc.

Control+F

Find Again

Finds the next occurrence of the term or phrase.

Control+G

Editing

Copy

Copies a highlighted word or phrase.

Control+C

Cut

Cuts a highlighted word or phrase.

Control+X

Paste

Pastes the copied or cut word or phrase.

Control+V

Undo

Undo the previous command. (Helpful if you accidentally cut the wrong word or phrase.)

Control+Z

Select All

Selects all the items on a page, document, or cell. (Useful when needing to copy/cut large amounts of information.)

Control+A

Navigation / Screen Control

Program Switching

Switches between open applications on your computer.

Alt+Tab

Tab Switching

Switches between tabs opened in your web browser.

Control+Tab

Zoom In / Out

Zooms focus in or out on the current screen / program.

Control+ (+ or -)

Special Symbols

Note: The special symbol/character shortcuts for a PC will only work with keyboards that have a separate numberpad with number lock turned on. The codes will not work using the numbers at the top of your keyboard. Although some laptops contain a keyboard that can be accessed using the Function key, it may be easier to access special symbols/characters through the program Character Map or by using the Insert Symbols/Special Characters option found in many apps.
Registered Trademark

®

Alt+0174

Trademark

™

Alt+0153

Copyright

©

Alt+0169

Degree

° or ˚

Alt+0176 or Alt+248

Cents

¢

Alt+0162

An extended list of frequently used symbols/characters can be found on Pennsylvania State University's Symbol Codes site.

An extended list of PC keyboard shortcuts can be found on Microsoft's Keyboard shortcuts in Windows page. 

Commonly Used Keyboard Shortcuts - Mac

Searching

Find

Searches the active webpage for a term or phrase. Also useable in programs such as Google Productivity Apps (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe Suites (Acrobat), etc.

Command+F

Find Again

Finds the next occurrence of the term or phrase.

Command+G

Editing

Copy

Copies a highlighted word or phrase.

Command+C

Cut

Cuts a highlighted word or phrase.

Command+X

Paste

Pastes the copied or cut word or phrase.

Command+V

Undo

Undo the previous command. (Helpful if you accidentally cut the wrong word or phrase.)

Command+Z

Select All

Selects all the items on a page, document, or cell. (Useful when needing to copy/cut large amounts of information.)

Command+A

Navigation / Screen Control

Program Switching

Switches between open applications on your computer.

Command+Tab

Tab Switching

Switches between tabs opened in your web browser.

Control+Tab

Zoom In / Out

Zooms focus in or out on the current screen / program.

Command+ (+ or -)

Special Symbols

Registered Trademark

®

Option+R

Trademark

™

Option+2

Copyright

©

Option+G

Degree

° or ˚

Option+Shift+8 or Option+K

Cents

¢

Option+4

An extended list of frequently used symbols/characters can be found on Pennsylvania State University's Symbol Codes site.

An extended list of Mac keyboard shortcuts can be found on Apple's Mac Keyboard Shortcuts page.