Editing with Keyboard Shortcuts

This chapter explains how to use keyboard shortcuts, which minimize mouse use and let you write quickly with just the keyboard.

This chapter covers only the main keyboard shortcuts. For descriptions of all keyboard shortcuts, see Keyboard Shortcuts or the <1Helphelp> menu in the left sidebar of the editor.

Keyboard shortcut Help menu

Keyboard shortcuts work on Windows, Linux, and macOS. However, on macOS, unless otherwise noted, use the Return key instead of the Enter key, the Command key instead of the Ctrl key, and the Option key instead of the Alt key. Shortcuts that include a number are an exception. Because Safari uses Command combinations to switch browser tabs, you press them with the Ctrl key on macOS as well.

Adding a Text Paragraph — Ctrl + I , Ctrl + 1

Press Ctrl + I or Ctrl + 1 to add a text paragraph. If a paragraph is selected, the text paragraph is added below it; otherwise, it is added at the bottom.

On Linux, use Alt + I instead of Ctrl + I. Ctrl + 1 works on Linux as is. On macOS, you can also use Option + I.

Adding an Image Paragraph — Ctrl + 2

Press Ctrl + 2 to add an image paragraph. If a paragraph is selected, the image paragraph is added below it; otherwise, it is added at the bottom.

Adding a Table Paragraph — Ctrl + 3

Press Ctrl + 3 to add a table paragraph. If a paragraph is selected, the table paragraph is added below it; otherwise, it is added at the bottom.

Adding an Object Paragraph — Ctrl + 4

Press Ctrl + 4 to add an object paragraph. If a paragraph is selected, the object paragraph is added below it; otherwise, it is added at the bottom.

Deleting Paragraphs — Delete, Backspace

Press the Delete or Backspace key to delete the selected paragraphs.

Switching from Normal Mode to Paragraph Edit Mode — Enter

Press the Enter key to switch the selected paragraph to edit mode.

Switching from Paragraph Edit Mode to Normal Mode — Esc

Press the Esc key to switch the paragraph from edit mode to normal mode.

When you add or move a paragraph by dragging and dropping, press the Esc key to cancel the operation.

Saving Paragraph Content — Ctrl + S

In paragraph edit mode, press Ctrl + S to save the content and switch to normal mode.

Selecting a Text Paragraph Type — Ctrl + /

Place the cursor in the text paragraph editing area and press Ctrl + / to open a drop-down menu where you can select a paragraph type. Select a paragraph type with the arrow keys, and then press the Enter key to apply it.

Ctrl + / shortcut

<code>Ctrl + /</code> shortcut

Selecting the Proofreading Paragraph Type — Ctrl + P

Place the cursor in the text paragraph editing area and press Ctrl + P to select the Proofreading paragraph type.

Paragraph Editor Toolbar — Ctrl + Space

Place the cursor in the paragraph editing area and press Ctrl + Space to open a drop-down menu where you can select character types and editor tools. Select an action with the arrow keys, and then press the Enter key to apply it.

On Linux, use Alt + /; on macOS, use Option + /.

Ctrl + Space shortcut

<code>Ctrl + Space</code> shortcut

You can use it not only in text paragraphs but also in image titles, tables, and so on.

Selecting Paragraphs with Arrow Keys in Normal Mode — Up(↑), Down(↓), PageUp, PageDown, Home, End, Ctrl + A

Up: Selects the paragraph above the selected paragraph. If no paragraph is selected, selects the topmost paragraph visible on the screen.
Down: Selects the paragraph below the selected paragraph. If no paragraph is selected, selects the topmost paragraph visible on the screen.
PageUp: Scrolls up by one screen height and selects the topmost visible paragraph.
PageDown: Scrolls down by one screen height and selects the topmost visible paragraph.
Home: Selects the first paragraph.
End: Selects the last paragraph.
Ctrl + A: Selects all paragraphs.

Hold down the Shift key and press the Up or Down key to select multiple paragraphs. You can also select multiple paragraphs with the mouse by holding down the Shift key while clicking.

Copying and Pasting Paragraphs — Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V

Ctrl + C: Copies the selected paragraphs.
Ctrl + V: Pastes the copied paragraphs.

You can paste copied paragraphs into another editor.

Changing Heading Levels — Tab, Shift + Tab

Tab: If the selected paragraph is a heading, lowers its heading level by one. For example, if you select a Heading 1 paragraph and press the Tab key, it changes to Heading 2. If you select a paragraph that is not a heading, such as a text, code, note, image, or table paragraph, the paragraph is indented.
Shift + Tab: If the selected paragraph is a heading, raises its heading level by one. For example, if you select a Heading 2 paragraph and press Shift + Tab, it changes to Heading 1. If you select a paragraph that is not a heading, the indentation is removed.

You can select multiple paragraphs and apply this at once.

Collapsing and Expanding Headings — Left(←), Right(→)

Left: Hides all paragraphs under the heading.
Right: Shows all paragraphs under the heading.