Copying, Pasting, and Keyboard Shortcuts

In this guide, you will learn some simple computing strategies to help make your workflow more efficient.

Copy and paste with mouse (Windows)

1. In order to quickly highlight a portion of text, you can begin by hovering the I-beam pointer at the start of text.

i beam pointer image

2. Then click, hold down, and drag the I-beam pointer across the text you want to highlight.

Tip: To quickly highlight a single word, you can double click on the middle of the word to highlight it. Then right-click to copy and paste.

highlighting a portion text in windows

3. Right-click. Select Copy.

copying a portion of text in windows

4. Then, open up the place where you want to past your copied text (email, messenger, text box etc.)

5. Right-click, Press Paste.

6. In windows Outlook, you may be given Paste Options:

  • Keep Source Formatting keeps the original style and font of original text.
  • Merge formatting is useful because it matches the copied text format with the surrounding format of the destination.
  • Paste Images is useful for inserting images.
  • Keep Text Only will only paste the text, no images, icons, or hyperlinks.

 

pasting options in outlook windows
Copy and paste with keyboard shortcuts (Windows)

To copy and paste quickly, you can use the keyboard.

1. In order to quickly highlight a portion of text, you can begin by hovering the I-beam pointer at the start of text.

i beam pointer examples

2. Highlight the text. Then, Copy the text by holding down Ctrl + C on your keyboard.

Tip: To quickly highlight a single word, you can double click on the middle of the word to highlight it. Then right-click to copy and paste.

highlighting a portion of text

3. Paste the text by holding down Ctrl + V on you keyboard.

pasting text in windows using keyboard

A clipboard image will appear, giving you Paste Options:

  • Keep Source Formatting keeps the original style and font of original text.
  • Merge formatting is useful because it matches the copied text format with the surrounding format of the destination.
  • Paste Images is useful for inserting images.
  • Keep Text Only will only paste the text, no images, icons, or hyperlinks.

Additional Keyboard Shortcuts:

  • Cut: Ctrl + X
  • Maximize Window: F11 or Windows logo key  + Up arrow 
  • Open Task View: Windows logo key  + Tab
  • Display and hide the desktop: Windows logo key  + D
  • Switch between open apps: Alt Tab
  • Open the Quick Link menu: Windows logo key  + X
  • Lock your PC: Windows logo key  + L
Copy and paste with mouse (Mac)

1. In order to quickly highlight a portion of text, you can begin by hovering the I-beam pointer at the start of text.

i pointer beam examples

2. Highlight the text. Right click, select Copy.

3. Then, open up the place where you want to past your copied text (email, messenger, text box etc.)

4. Right-click, Press Paste.

Tip: To quickly highlight a single word, you can double click on the middle of the word to highlight it. Then right-click to copy and paste.

right click to copy on mac, and right click to paste

5. A clipboard image will appear, giving you Paste Options:

  • Keep Source Formatting keeps the original style and font of original text.
  • Match Destination Formatting matches the surrounding text format
  • Keep Text Only will only paste the text, no images, icons, or hyperlinks.
paste options in mac
Copy and paste with keyboard shortcuts (Mac)

To copy and paste quickly, you can use the keyboard.

1. In order to quickly highlight a portion of text, you can begin by hovering the I-beam pointer at the start of text.

i beam pointer examples

2. Highlight the text. Then, Copy the text by holding down Command + C on your keyboard.

Tip: To quickly highlight a single word, you can double click on the middle of the word to highlight it. Then right-click to copy and paste.

copying text using keyboard in mac

3. Paste the text by holding down Command + V on you keyboard.

pasting using keyboard in mac

Additional keyboard shortcuts:

  • Command-X: Cut the selected item and copy it to the Clipboard.
  • Command-Z: Undo the previous command. You can then press Shift-Command-Z toRedo, reversing the undo command. In some apps, you can undo and redo multiple commands.
  • Command-A: Select All items.
  • Command-F: Find items in a document or open a Find window.
  • Command-G:Find Again: Find the next occurrence of the item previously found. To find the previous occurrence, press Shift-Command-G.
  • Command-H: Hide the windows of the front app. To view the front app but hide all other apps, press Option-Command-H.
  • Command-M: Minimize the front window to the Dock. To minimize all windows of the front app, press Option-Command-M.
  • Command-O: Open the selected item, or open a dialog to select a file to open.
  • Command-P: Print the current document.
  • Command-S: Save the current document.
  • Command-T: Open a new tab.
Copy and paste images (Windows and Mac)

1. To copy and paste an image, simply right click the image. Select Copy.

copying an image in windows

3. Then, open up the place where you want to past your copied text (email, messenger, word doc etc.)

4. Press Paste Options > Picture.

pasting an image in windows

1. On mac right click the image you want to copy. Select Copy.

copying an image in mac

2. Then, open up the place where you want to past your copied text (email, messenger, word doc etc.)

3. Press Paste.

pasting an image in mac

Additional Support and Resources

Need help with something else? Contact your local or district IT help desk.

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