Computer Keyboard Shortcuts and Important Terminology Notes

Keyboard shortcuts and basic computer terms are some of the most frequently asked topics in the computer awareness section of SSC, banking, railways, defence, police and state examinations. The questions are direct: "Which key combination is used to copy?", "What does the function key F5 do?" or "What is a cookie?". If you learn the shortcuts and the terms in groups, you can answer all these questions in a few seconds. This note gives you tables of the most important shortcut keys for Windows, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and web browsers, followed by a glossary of important computer terms with simple meanings.

General Windows Shortcut Keys

Function Keys

MS Word Shortcuts

• Ctrl + B, Ctrl + I, Ctrl + U: Bold, italic and underline.
• Ctrl + L, Ctrl + E, Ctrl + R, Ctrl + J: Align left, centre, right and justify.
• Ctrl + H: Find and replace. Ctrl + K: Insert a hyperlink.
• Ctrl + Enter: Insert a page break. Ctrl + Home / Ctrl + End: Go to the start or end of the document.
• Shift + F3: Change the case of the selected text.

MS Excel and PowerPoint Shortcuts

Web Browser Shortcuts

• Ctrl + T: Open a new tab. Ctrl + Shift + T: Reopen the closed tab.
• Ctrl + D: Bookmark the page. Ctrl + H: Open the history. Ctrl + J: Open the downloads.
• Ctrl + Shift + N: Open a private (incognito) window in Chrome.
• F5 or Ctrl + R: Reload the page.

Important Computer Terms

Mouse Actions and Windows Desktop Basics

The mouse is the most common pointing device. A single click selects an item, a double click opens a file or a program, a right click opens the context menu with options such as copy, rename and properties, and drag and drop moves an item from one place to another. The scroll wheel moves the page up or down. On the Windows desktop, the taskbar at the bottom shows the open programs, the Start button opens the menu of programs and settings, the notification area shows the clock, the volume and the network icons, and the Recycle Bin stores the deleted files until they are permanently removed. A folder (also called a directory) is a container for files, and the first hard disk partition is normally named drive C. Knowing these basics helps in answering simple, direct questions without any confusion.

Types of Software Licences

• Proprietary software: Owned by a company; the source code is not shared, and you need to buy a licence (example: MS Office).
• Freeware: Free to use, but not free to modify.
• Shareware: Free to try for a limited period, then you need to pay.
• Open-source software: The source code is open for everyone to use and modify (examples: Linux, LibreOffice).

Practice Questions With Answers

• Q1. Which shortcut is used to select all the text in a document? Answer: Ctrl + A.
• Q2. Which key is used to rename a selected file? Answer: F2.
• Q3. Which shortcut reopens a closed browser tab? Answer: Ctrl + Shift + T.
• Q4. What is the full form of spooling? Answer: Simultaneous Peripheral Operations On-Line.
• Q5. What is a small file stored by a website on a computer called? Answer: A cookie.
• Q6. Which key combination starts the slide show from the current slide in PowerPoint? Answer: Shift + F5.

Common Mistakes

Students often confuse Ctrl + C with Ctrl + X, or Ctrl + Z with Ctrl + Y, in a hurry. Remember that cut removes the item from the original place, while copy keeps it. Another common mistake is to mix up the function keys of different programs, for example F5 in a browser (refresh) and F5 in PowerPoint (start the slide show). Read the question carefully for the program that is mentioned. Also, do not mix cache with cookie: cache is a memory that speeds up the access, while a cookie is a file stored by a website.

Tips to Learn Shortcuts and Terms

• Practise the shortcuts on a real computer for ten minutes a day, so that they become a habit.
• Learn them in groups: editing keys, file keys, window keys, function keys.
• Remember the letters: C for copy, V looks like a downward pointer for paste, X looks like scissors for cut, Z is the last letter for "undo the last".
• For terms, make a flashcard with the term on one side and the meaning on the other.

Read this along with our notes on MS Office basics and computer abbreviations.

Why These Topics Are Easy Marks

Shortcut keys and terms have fixed answers, so there is no doubt about the right option if you have learned them. In most computer sections, there are several such direct questions, and they take only a few seconds each. This means you can save time for the harder questions in the other sections. Spend about 15 minutes every day for one week, and you will be able to answer almost every question of this kind with confidence.

Quick Revision

• Copy Ctrl + C, cut Ctrl + X, paste Ctrl + V, undo Ctrl + Z, redo Ctrl + Y.
• Alt + F4 closes a program; Alt + Tab switches programs; Shift + Delete deletes permanently.
• F1 help, F2 rename, F5 refresh, F7 spell check, F12 Save As in Word.
• Cache is fast memory; cookie is a small website file; firewall is a security system.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the shortcut key for copy?

Ctrl + C is the shortcut key for copy.

What is the shortcut key for paste?

Ctrl + V is the shortcut key for paste.

What does Ctrl + Z do?

Ctrl + Z undoes the last action.

What does Alt + F4 do?

Alt + F4 closes the active program or window.

Which key combination opens the Task Manager directly?

Ctrl + Shift + Esc opens the Task Manager directly.

What does Shift + Delete do?

It permanently deletes the selected file without sending it to the Recycle Bin.

What is the function of the F5 key?

F5 refreshes or reloads a page, and in PowerPoint it starts the slide show.

Which key is used for the spelling check in MS Word?

The F7 key is used for the spelling and grammar check.

What is a cookie?

A cookie is a small file saved by a website on your computer to remember your preferences or login.

What is a firewall?

A firewall is a security system that monitors and controls the network traffic.

What is cache memory?

Cache is a small, high-speed memory that stores frequently used data to speed up the processing.

How can I learn computer shortcuts easily?

Practise them daily on a computer, learn them in groups and revise with flashcards.