Unit 3: Working with Text

2. Selecting Text

Selecting is also called highlighting because the program highlights the text to show what’s being chosen. Selecting text allows changes to be made to it. Once selected, text can be changed in a variety of ways. You must Select It to Effect It.To select text using the arrow keys on the keyboard:

· Position the blinking cursor next to the text to be selected

· Hold down the Shift key

· Use the arrow keys to select the text before or after the cursor

To select with the mouse:

· Position the I-beam at the beginning of the text

· 2. Click and hold the mouse button down

· 3. Drag the mouse over the text until the text is highlighted

· 4. Release the mouse button

To select portions of text that are noncontiguous (not right next to each other):

· Select the first portion of text using one of the methods above

· Hold down the Ctrl key on the keyboard while selecting the next portion of text

To select one full line of text:

· Move the cursor into the left margin until the I-beam changes to an arrow

· Position the arrow in front of the line to be selected and click once

To select an entire paragraph:

· Move the cursor into the left margin until the I-beam changes to an arrow

· Position the arrow at the top line of the paragraph to be selected

· Double-click in the left margin

To select all of the text in the document, choose one of the options below:

· Go to the Home tab Editing group    Select    Select All

· Move the cursor into the left margin; when the I-beam changes to an arrow, triple-click the mouse

· Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + A

Remember in Word you have to select it to effect it.