Mac Treat #68: Select Text With Precision

Arguably, I spend most of my days typing on the computer for one reason or another (emailing, searching, writing, etc…), so I always like to find shortcuts to make the process more efficient. Here are the top text tips (say that ten times fast) for selecting text that I’ve found help me the most:

» Use Command+ or Command- to change the size of the text
Much faster than opening the font panel! Note that this actually changes the point size of the text instead of zooming, so the document will print this way.

» Drag cursor across to select a range of text
The most common method to select text—great for multiple lines.

» Use the Shift key to select text.
A faster option to select multiple lines of text. Just hold down Shift where you want to begin, and then click the mouse button at the end of your selection. The whole middle area should be selected.

» Double click on any word to select the entire word
Really useful, especially for shorter words that are a pain to drag and select. I use it all the time in URLs! (to select “www” or “com/org” etc.)

» Triple click to select a whole line
This will select an entire line or paragraph; also helpful when selecting urls.

» Hold Option (Alt for PC users) while dragging the cursor to select a box of text
Really useful when working with tables (of the text variety, not the wooden kind). It will turn the regular cursor into a crosshair (ooh, snazzy).

» Use Command-A to select all
When you just want to grab everything.

Bonus:
» Use Shift-Command-C to copy text and style
The perfect companion to Ed’s Mac Treat #67.