The Most common Computer keyboard layout in the US

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The Basic Computer Keyboard

 

 

SPACE BAR – Is the largest key on the bottom row. Primarily used for creating a space between letters or words.

 

SHIFT KEY – Is located on both the left and right side of the keyboard. When this key is held down you make letters into capitals and can access upper characters. (Like the @ located above number 2 or the $ sign located above number 4.) Give it a try.

 

 CAPS LOCK – This key basically locks the shift key on, so everything typed will be in capitals or the upper characters. Press it again to unlock.

 

 

TAB KEY – Is used to go to the next tab spot. Like on the old fashioned typewriter.

 

 

ENTER KEY – When you select a button you can press enter or double click the mouse. It usually causes something to operate. In a Word document it acts like a return key taking you to the next line.

 

 

BACKSPACE KEY – Pressing this will remove the last letter you typed or when browsing the internet it will take you to the previously viewed page.

 

 

ALT KEY – (Alternate) This key is a modifier and changes the function of other keys. For example if you press ALT and F key it drops down the file menu of the current program.

 

 

CTRL KEY – Stands for control button. Found on both sides, bottom left and right, of the keyboard. Another modifier used to perform special functions such as copying selected text (Ctrl-C).

 

 

WINDOWS KEY – This key brings up the start menu. Try it. If you press the win key and D it shows the desktop. This picture shows the win key in between the CTRL and the ALT keys.

 

 

Basic Shortcut Keys



Short Cut Keys



Description

Alt + F —-



File menu options in current program.

 

Alt + E—–



Edit options in current program.

 

F1



——— Universal Help in 90% of Windows programs.

 

Ctrl + A —



Select all text

 

Ctrl + X



—-Cut selected item

 

Shift + Del



Cut selected item

 

Ctrl + C—- Copy selected item

 

Ctrl + Ins– -



Copy selected item

 

Ctrl + V



Paste



Ctrl + F



Find (or Find and Replace) dialogue box will pop up. Use this to search a document or web page for a specific word or phrase.

 

Shift + Ins



Paste

 

Home



Goes to beginning of current line.

 

Ctrl + Home



Goes to beginning of document.

 

Ctrl + End



Goes to end of document.

 

Shift + Home



Highlights from current position to beginning of line.

 

Shift + End



Highlights from current position to end of line.

 

Ctrl + Left arrow



Moves one word to the left at a time.

 

Ctrl + Right arrow



Moves one word to the right at a time.



Ctrl + Backspace



Delete word to the left of cursor.

 

Ctrl + Del



Delete word to the right of cursor.