KEYBOARD QUICK TIPS

TEXT NAVIGATION AIDS

1 Key combos enable you to move the text insertion point (caret) without using a mouse or trackpad. In TextEdit, Pages and many other text editors, use Cmd+Up Arrow to go to the start of the doc or Cmd+Down Arrow to go to the end. Cmd+Left Arrow or Cmd+ Right Arrow goes to the start or end of the current line. Opt+Left Arrow or Opt+Right Arrow moves back or forward by one word, Opt+Up Arrow or Opt+Down Arrow by a paragraph. Add Shift to these to also select text between the start and end positions.

PASTE IN STYLE

2 Save yourself having to reformat text after you copy and paste it from elsewhere into TextEdit or Pages. If you use Opt+Shift+Cmd+V to paste, the text will adopt the style at the position where it’s inserted into your document. (Some third-party apps have their own equivalents).

KEEP THINGS NEAT

3 Most apps respect standard keys for constraining objects when they are edited. Hold Shift as you drag an object to move it vertically or horizontally in a straight line, or while dragging a corner to keep the object’s proportions as you scale it. Hold Opt and drag an object to copy it, or while dragging a corner to scale from the center. While rotating, hold Shift to turn in 45 or 90-degree increments.