Take Ctrl (or Command) with Keyboard Shortcuts

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Ctrl+C to copy, Ctrl+X to cut and Ctrl+V to paste.


Cut, Copy and Paste. You've heard those words before.

Maybe you've done them before. 

Did you right-click your mouse?

Did you use the Ctrl key? (Command key if on an Apple)

Like most tasks with a computer there are several ways to accomplish a Cut, Copy or Paste.

First, what is Cut, Copy and Paste?

Well, they're just what they sound like:

"Cut" removes an object, usually text, from its place.

"Copy" makes a copy of an object, again usually text.

"Paste" places that object you just "Cut" or "Copied" into place.

You can't "Paste" without first using "Cut" or "Copy."

The first step in a "Cut" or "Copy" is to select the object you wish to "Cut" or "Copy."

For example, say I just read something on a website that I'd like to put into an email for a friend of mine.

Maybe it's a recipe, an event coming up, a piece of news, whatever.

The first thing I need to do is select that object.

Place your mouse cursor at one end of the article, click the left button and HOLD it down, then use it like a paint brush to sweep over the words.

You'll notice the words change color. As if being highlighted. 

When the entire section you want to "Copy" is highlighted let go of that left mouse button.

If you did this right the words on the screen should be highlighted, probably in blue.

Now, on your keyboard press and HOLD the Ctrl key. While you are holding it down press the letter "C." You've just copied all that highlighted text. I know, it doesn't look like anything happened at all but trust me you've just copied all that highlighted text and it's being held up in space somewhere waiting for you to "Paste" it.

We wanted to put that text in an email to share it with a friend, right? So let's go ahead and get into your email. Compose a new message to your friend. Right in the message body of that email where the blinking cursor is give it a left click with your mouse to make sure it's selected then press and HOLD the Ctrl key and while you are holding it press the letter "V." 

All that copied text should appear right there in the email.

Copying and Pasting work just about everywhere whether it's a website, a document or a picture. Anything you can highlight can be Copied and anything Copied can be Pasted.

Now if you had tried to "Cut" those words off the website it would still only "Copy" because that's not your website and you have to power to alter it in any way. If you wanted to remove that text from the email you were writing you can use "Cut" there to get rid of it because that is your email and you have the power to alter it.

Whatever you "Copy" or "Cut" will stay in memory waiting for "Paste" until you wither "Copy" or "Cut" something else or turn your computer off so if you wanted to you could keep Pasting those words over and over and over and over....

Maybe you were going to print out a bunch of tags for Christmas presents. Instead of typing "To Katie from Santa" ten times you would only type it once, "Copy" it then "Paste" it nine times into your template.

Ctrl+C to copy, Ctrl+X to cut and Ctrl+V to paste.


Highlight the object

Hold Ctrl and press C or X to Copy or Cut

Hold Ctrl and press V to Paste

Give it a try.



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