When mousing came along, more and more new computer users lost contact with the concept of performing simple operations with keyboard shortcuts. I frequently run across folks who have no knowledge of even the most basic keystrokes. That’s a shame, because they’re a big help once you learn to use them.

For example: grab your mouse, select this line, then - using your other hand - as soon as you let go of the button, press “Ctrl,” hold it down, and press “c.” You just copied the line. How hard was that? Sure, you could have right-clicked and used the menu, but which is easier? You weren’t using that other hand for anything, anyway.

That’s “indispensible shortcut #1.” The other three are:
“Ctrl + x” to cut;
“Ctrl + v” to paste; and
“Ctrl + s” to save.

For writers, learning to cut and paste with shortcuts, while selecting with the mouse, saves a lot of hassle over time. Also, when using a word processor or spreadsheet, get in the habit of hitting “Ctrl + s” every few seconds, when you stop to think, or whatever. This continuous saving of work guarantees that your previous thought won’t be lost to posterity because of a power hiccup, program crash, or other problem. Yes, I know you can set your program to auto-save, but not every few seconds. Trust me. Eventually, you will be thankful that you developed the habit.

To learn more about the many shortcut combinations available in Windows, bring up “Help and Support” on the Start menu, search for “keyboard shortcuts,” and click on “Windows keyboard shortcuts overview,”
or Google keyboard+shortcuts (include the plus sign).