Google Docs is fast becoming an essential tool for teachers, offering a versatile platform to create and edit documents on the go. With features like real-time editing and the cloud-based accessibility, Google Docs ensures that information is easily shared and available to students anytime, anywhere.
With so many features built into the Google Docs, it makes sense to learn a few easy shortcuts to further increase one’s productivity. This article contains keyboard shortcuts for Google Docs, a fitting companion to ‘Keyboard shortcut guide for Google Sheets‘, and ‘Keyboard Shortcuts for Google Slides‘. Most of the shortcuts given below are ‘universal’ in nature, meaning they can also be used while using other Alternatives for MS Word.
Google Docs Shortcuts for Common Tasks
Common tasks in Google Sheet includes copying, pasting, printing, hyperlinking, etc. Here are the most popular Google Docs shortcuts for such tasks.
| Google Doc Function | Keyboard Shortcut |
| Copy | Ctrl + c |
| Cut | Ctrl + x |
| Paste | Ctrl + v |
| Paste without formatting | Ctrl + Shift + v |
| Undo | Ctrl + z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Shift + z |
| Insert or edit link | Ctrl + k |
| Open link | Alt + Enter |
| Ctrl + p | |
| Open | Ctrl + o |
| Find | Ctrl + f |
| Find and replace | Ctrl + h |
| Switch to editing | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + z |
| Switch to suggesting | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + x |
| Switch to viewing | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + c |
Google Docs Shortcuts for Formatting Text
Text should be well presented in documents to covey the meaning effectively, and to lay emphasis on certain key points. Here are the most popular Google Doc shortcuts for formatting text.
| Google Doc Function | Keyboard Shortcut |
| Bold | Ctrl + b |
| Italicize | Ctrl + i |
| Underline | Ctrl + u |
| Strikethrough | Alt + Shift + 5 |
| Superscript | Ctrl + . |
| Subscript | Ctrl + , |
| Increase font size | Ctrl + Shift + . |
| Decrease font size | Ctrl + Shift + , |
Google Docs Shortcuts for Formatting Paragraphs
Text should be neatly presented in the form of a paragraph to be comprehensible, and to segregate the different “themes” of an article. Here are few Google Doc shortcuts for formatting paragraphs.
| Google Doc Function | Keyboard Shortcut |
| Increase paragraph indentation | Ctrl + ] |
| Decrease paragraph indentation | Ctrl + [ |
| Apply normal text style | Ctrl + Alt + 0 |
| Apply heading style [1-6] | Ctrl + Alt + [1-6] |
| Left align | Ctrl + Shift + l |
| Center align | Ctrl + Shift + e |
| Right align | Ctrl + Shift + r |
| Justify | Ctrl + Shift + j |
| Numbered list | Ctrl + Shift + 7 |
| Bulleted list | Ctrl + Shift + 8 |
| Checklist | Ctrl + Shift + 9 |
| Move paragraph up/down | Ctrl + Shift + Up/down arrow |
Google Docs Shortcuts for Comments
With Google Doc’s real-time editing and commenting feature, teachers can provide timely and personalized feedback to their students. Here are few shortcuts which would make this work easier.
| Google Doc Function | Keyboard Shortcut |
| Insert comment | Ctrl + Alt + m |
| Open discussion thread | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + a |
| Enter current comment | holding Ctrl + Alt, press e then c |
| Move to next comment | holding Ctrl + Alt, press n then c |
| Move to previous comment | holding Ctrl + Alt, press p then c |
| Open comment history | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + a |
Google Docs Shortcuts for Menu Options
Menu bar, located at the top of the Google Docs window, provides increased functionality to users. The functions are organized in the form of dropdown titles – File, Edit, View, Insert, and such. The shortcuts to access Google Docs menu titles are given below.
| File menu | in Google Chrome: Alt + f other browsers: Alt + Shift + f |
| Edit menu | in Google Chrome: Alt + e other browsers: Alt + Shift + e |
| View menu | in Google Chrome: Alt + v other browsers: Alt + Shift + v |
| Insert menu | in Google Chrome: Alt + i other browsers: Alt + Shift + i |
| Format menu | in Google Chrome: Alt + o other browsers: Alt + Shift + o |
| Tools menu | in Google Chrome: Alt + t other browsers: Alt + Shift + t |
| Help menu | in Google Chrome: Alt + h other browsers: Alt + Shift + h |
Google Editor Suit Shortcuts
Google has its own software suit for workspace productivity – Google Editor Suit. It comprises of Google Sheet, Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Drawings, Google Form, etc. The shortcuts for Google productivity software are given below.
If one is searching for software similar to Microsoft Word, we have also provided the alternatives at Alternatives for MS Word.
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