Word processing/Selecting text

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Selecting text is also known as highlighting text. It is used often when using Microsoft Word for tasks such as formatting, deleting, moving or copying text.

When you have text selected you need to be careful that you do not accidentally delete the selected text, this is easily done as if you press any key on the keyboard the selected text will be deleted and replaced with the key you pressed (even the spacebar).


 * Select a word
 * Double click.


 * Select a sentence
 * Ctrl + Click anywhere in the sentence


 * Select a line.
 * Move I-Beam into the left margin of the page beside the paragraph (selection bar) and click


 * Select a paragraph
 * Triple click anywhere within the paragraph or move I-Beam into the selection bar, point to the paragraph and double click


 * Select multiple paragraphs at a time
 * Move I-Beam into the selection bar, point to paragraph and double click. Holding down the left mouse button and dragging down the document selects multiple paragraphs.


 * Select horizontally
 * Click and drag across text.


 * Select vertically
 * Click and drag down with I-Beam or drag in selection bar.


 * Select between two points
 * Click at the beginning, move I-Beam to end point and hold down Shift + Click at the end point.


 * Select the whole document
 * Press Ctrl and click in the selection bar or triple click or click the Edit menu then click Select All.


 * Deselect text selected
 * Click away from the selected area.