Selecting Text
In order to modify, cut, or copy text, you first have to select the text. You can do this with the mouse, the keyboard, or a combination of the two.In the field immediately below is a paragraph of text that we will be selecting in various ways.
Becoming familar with each method, in turn, will help you understand which methods are the best for you in different circumstances. For example, If you are editing some text and using the keyboard heavily, using keyboard options (like Shift with Left/Right Arrows or Up and Down keys) makes more sense than reaching for the mouse.
Begin by clicking in the field so that the flashing bar or "Insertion Point" as it is called is present in the field. Once there you can move the Insertion Point around using the arrow keys.
Now, try the following tasks with the paragraphs below:
Select charactersby using Shift and Left/Right Arrows
Holding down the Shift key anchors one end of the selection, allowing you to extend the number of letters selected by tapping the Right
Arrow key while still holding the Shift key. If you use the Left Arrow key while continuing to holdShift, you decrease the number of characters selected. Releasing the Shift ends the selection process. If you now use either arrow key, it will cancel the selection.
Exercise
1. Click in the field above to place the Insertion Point in the paragraph.
2.Use your arrow keys to move the Insertion Point to the left of "I" in the paragraph on the first line.Hold down the Shift Key and tap the Right
Arrow Key to extend the selection to cover "I am able to move."Release Shift to stop selecting.Use either arrow key to cancel the selection.
3. Now try this process in the opposite direction:Use your arrow key to move the Insertion Point to the right of errors on the third line.Hold down Shift and tap Left Arrow to extend the select to cover "copying allow me to reduce errors." Use either arrow key to cancel the selection
2.Use your arrow keys to move the Insertion Point to the left of "I" in the paragraph on the first line.Hold down the Shift Key and tap the Right
Arrow Key to extend the selection to cover "I am able to move."Release Shift to stop selecting.Use either arrow key to cancel the selection.
3. Now try this process in the opposite direction:Use your arrow key to move the Insertion Point to the right of errors on the third line.Hold down Shift and tap Left Arrow to extend the select to cover "copying allow me to reduce errors." Use either arrow key to cancel the selection
Select a line by using shift and Up/Down Arrow
This process allows you to use the same method select lines. The key difference is using Up and Down Arrows instead of Left and Right Arrows. If you move the Insertion Point to the beginning of the line before pressing Shift to start the selection, you are positioned to copy the entire line. Placing the Insertion Point within the line will start the selection at that point instead.
This process allows you to use the same method select lines. The key difference is using Up and Down Arrows instead of Left and Right Arrows. If you move the Insertion Point to the beginning of the line before pressing Shift to start the selection, you are positioned to copy the entire line. Placing the Insertion Point within the line will start the selection at that point instead.
Exercise
1. Click in the field above to place the Insertion Point in the paragraph.
2. Use the Arrow Keys or the Home Key to move the Insertion Point to the beginning of the paragraph's first line. Hold the Shift Key to start the selection and tap the Down Arrow twice to extend the selection across the paragraph's first two lines. Release Shift to stop selecting. Use any arrow key to cancel the selection.
3. Use the Arrow Keys to position the Insertion Point to the left of the sentence beginning with, "Besides..". Hold the Shift Key to start the selection and tap the Down Arrow twice to extend the selection across two lines to encompass the phrase, "Besides the convenience of moving instead of typing text, copying allows me to reduce errors."Use the left and right to adjust the selection just that phase and then release the Shift Key.Use any arrow key once Shift is release to cancel the selection.
Select a line by dragging with the mouse
Though requires more eye-hand coordination, most people learn to use the mouse to select text. The challenge is starting the selection point in the
right spot by pressing the left mouse button and continuing to hold that mouse as you move across the text you wish to select until the whole line is
highlighted. Then release the mouse to complete the selection.If you have a left margin as in Microsoft Word, selection is much easier because you can use that margin to select a whole line
by holding the mouse button down while moving to the next
line.
2. Use the Arrow Keys or the Home Key to move the Insertion Point to the beginning of the paragraph's first line. Hold the Shift Key to start the selection and tap the Down Arrow twice to extend the selection across the paragraph's first two lines. Release Shift to stop selecting. Use any arrow key to cancel the selection.
3. Use the Arrow Keys to position the Insertion Point to the left of the sentence beginning with, "Besides..". Hold the Shift Key to start the selection and tap the Down Arrow twice to extend the selection across two lines to encompass the phrase, "Besides the convenience of moving instead of typing text, copying allows me to reduce errors."Use the left and right to adjust the selection just that phase and then release the Shift Key.Use any arrow key once Shift is release to cancel the selection.
Select a line by dragging with the mouse
Though requires more eye-hand coordination, most people learn to use the mouse to select text. The challenge is starting the selection point in the
right spot by pressing the left mouse button and continuing to hold that mouse as you move across the text you wish to select until the whole line is
highlighted. Then release the mouse to complete the selection.If you have a left margin as in Microsoft Word, selection is much easier because you can use that margin to select a whole line
by holding the mouse button down while moving to the next
line.
Exercise
1. Click in the field to the left of "Selection"in the first to place the Insertion Point in the paragraph.
2. Click and hold down the left mouse button in that same location and begin to move diagonally across the paragraph. If you are successful, the words will be selected as you move down. If the selection does not appear or does occur start at the
3. When you have reached the last line and encompassed the word "selection" at the end of the line, release the mouse button. If you released too early, you can use the Shift key and the right or down arrow to extend the selection as described in the paragraph itself.
Other ways of selecting
While those are the basics of selection, there are many other ways to select text. For example, you can quickly select a single word by double-clicking it or use Cntrl-A to select all the text in a document.
For Microsoft Word, here is a listing of all the ways you can select text. Many of these methods are also used by other programs, though you can also find out a specific program's selection options in that program's online help.
2. Click and hold down the left mouse button in that same location and begin to move diagonally across the paragraph. If you are successful, the words will be selected as you move down. If the selection does not appear or does occur start at the
3. When you have reached the last line and encompassed the word "selection" at the end of the line, release the mouse button. If you released too early, you can use the Shift key and the right or down arrow to extend the selection as described in the paragraph itself.
Other ways of selecting
While those are the basics of selection, there are many other ways to select text. For example, you can quickly select a single word by double-clicking it or use Cntrl-A to select all the text in a document.
For Microsoft Word, here is a listing of all the ways you can select text. Many of these methods are also used by other programs, though you can also find out a specific program's selection options in that program's online help.
