If you use Microsoft Excel quite a lot in your day to day job then you will find using various short cuts speeds up everything you do which can only be a good thing.
You will also find it a lot easier than reaching for the mouse all the time to do a small task or flick to another sheet or workbook.
There are a few links at the bottom to some free excel training.
| CTRL+SHFT+( | Unhides any hidden rows within the selection. | + – |
| CTRL+SHFT+& | Applies the outline border to the selected cells. | + – |
| CTRL+SHFT_ | Removes the outline border from the selected cells. | + – |
| CTRL+SHFT+~ | Applies the General number format. | + – |
| CTRL+SHFT+$ | Applies the Currency format with two decimal places (negative numbers in parentheses). | + – |
| CTRL+SHFT+% | Applies the Percentage format with no decimal places. | + – |
| CTRL+SHFT+^ | Applies the Scientific number format with two decimal places. | + – |
| CTRL+SHFT+# | Applies the Date format with the day, month, and year. | + – |
| CTRL+SHFT+@ | Applies the Time format with the hour and minute, and AM or PM. | + – |
| CTRL+SHFT+! | Applies the Number format with two decimal places, thousands separator, and minus sign (-) for negative values. | + – |
| CTRL+SHFT+* | Selects the current region around the active cell (the data area enclosed by blank rows and blank columns). In a PivotTable, it selects the entire PivotTable report. | + – |
| CTRL+SHFT+: | Enters the current time. | + – |
| CTRL+SHFT+ | Copies the value from the cell above the active cell into the cell or the Formula Bar. | + – |
| CTRL+SHFT+Plus (+) | Displays the Insert dialog box to insert blank cells. | + – |
| CTRL+Minus (-) | Displays the Delete dialog box to delete the selected cells. | + – |
| CTRL+; | Enters the current date. | + – |
| CTRL+` | Alternates between displaying cell values and displaying formulas in the worksheet. | + – |
| CTRL+’ | Copies a formula from the cell above the active cell into the cell or the Formula Bar. | + – |
| CTRL+1 | Displays the Format Cells dialog box. | + – |
| CTRL+2 | Applies or removes bold formatting. | + – |
| CTRL+3 | Applies or removes italic formatting. | + – |
| CTRL+4 | Applies or removes underlining. | + – |
| CTRL+5 | Applies or removes strikethrough. | + – |
| CTRL+6 | Alternates between hiding and displaying objects. | + – |
| CTRL+8 | Displays or hides the outline symbols. | + – |
| CTRL+9 | Hides the selected rows. | + – |
| CTRL+0 | Hides the selected columns. | + – |
| CTRL+A | Selects the entire worksheet. If the worksheet contains data, CTRL+A selects the current region. Pressing CTRL+A a second time selects the entire worksheet. When the insertion point is to the right of a function name in a formula, displays the Function Arguments dialog box. CTRL+SHIFT+A inserts the argument names and parentheses when the insertion point is to the right of a function name in a formula. | + – |
| CTRL+B | Applies or removes bold formatting. | + – |
| CTRL+C | Copies the selected cells. | + – |
| CTRL+D | Uses the Fill Down command to copy the contents and format of the topmost cell of a selected range into the cells below. | + – |
| CTRL+F | Displays the Find and Replace dialog box, with the Find tab selected. SHIFT+F5 also displays this tab, while SHIFT+F4 repeats the last Find action. CTRL+SHIFT+F opens the Format Cells dialog box with the Font tab selected. | + – |
| CTRL+G | Displays the Go To dialog box. F5 also displays this dialog box. | + – |
| CTRL+H | Displays the Find and Replace dialog box, with the Replace tab selected. | + – |
| CTRL+I | Applies or removes italic formatting. | + – |
| CTRL+K | Displays the Insert Hyperlink dialog box for new hyperlinks or the Edit Hyperlink dialog box for selected existing hyperlinks. | + – |
| CTRL+L | Displays the Create Table dialog box. | + – |
| CTRL+N | Creates a new, blank workbook. | + – |
| CTRL+O | Displays the Open dialog box to open or find a file. CTRL+SHIFT+O selects all cells that contain comments. | + – |
| CTRL+P | Displays the Print tab in Microsoft Office Backstage view. CTRL+SHIFT+P opens the Format Cells dialog box with the Font tab selected. | + – |
| CTRL+R | Uses the Fill Right command to copy the contents and format of the leftmost cell of a selected range into the cells to the right. | + – |
| CTRL+S | Saves the active file with its current file name, location, and file format. | + – |
| CTRL+T | Displays the Create Table dialog box. | + – |
| CTRL+U | Applies or removes underlining. CTRL+SHIFT+U switches between expanding and collapsing of the formula bar. | + – |
| CTRL+V | Inserts the contents of the Clipboard at the insertion point and replaces any selection. Available only after you have cut or copied an object, text, or cell contents. CTRL+ALT+V displays the Paste Special dialog box. Available only after you have cut or copied an object, text, or cell contents on a worksheet or in another program. | + – |
| CTRL+W | Closes the selected workbook window. | + – |
| CTRL+X | Cuts the selected cells. | + – |
| CTRL+Y | Repeats the last command or action, if possible. | + – |
| CTRL+Z | Uses the Undo command to reverse the last command or to delete the last entry that you typed. | + – |
Want to learn more about using Microsoft Excel? Here are some useful links from Microsoft:
Downloadable training content adapted from the training course, “Get to know Excel 2010 – Create your first spreadsheet,” in PowerPoint format
Downloadable training content adapted from the training course, “Get to know Excel 2010: Create formulas,” in PowerPoint format.
Save time by creating and running macros in Excel 2010
Take the next steps in improving your Excel skills
Quick Overview of Excel






















