Key Takeaway:
- By mastering 15 essential Excel shortcuts, absolute beginners can navigate, format, and perform calculations more efficiently, saving time and reducing errors.
- Navigating shortcuts, including moving to the beginning or end of a worksheet, selecting the next or previous sheet, and jumping to a specific cell, make it easier to move around large sets of data.
- Formatting shortcuts, such as increasing or decreasing decimal places, bolding or italicizing text, and adjusting font size, can help make spreadsheets more visually appealing and easier to read.
- Selection shortcuts, such as selecting an entire row or column, copying and pasting cells, and filling cells with a series, can save time by quickly manipulating large amounts of data.
- Formula shortcuts, including inserting a function, editing a formula, and copying a formula to adjacent cells, make it easier to perform complex calculations and ensure accuracy.
- Using Excel shortcuts can improve productivity, reduce errors, and make it easier to work with large amounts of data, making it an essential skill for anyone who works with spreadsheets.
Tired of manually entering data into spreadsheets? Take your productivity to the next level with these 15 essential Excel shortcuts. With just a few keystrokes, you can speed up mundane tasks and turn your data into amazing insights.
15 essential Excel shortcuts for absolute beginners
Gain proficiency in Excel! Save time, be productive. We’ve got 15 essential shortcuts for beginners. Navigate, format, select, use formulas, and more with these shortcuts. Work faster, make tasks simple. That’s the solution!
Image credits: andersfogh.info by David Duncun
Navigating shortcuts
Shortcuts of Excel, which help navigate faster, enable saving a substantial amount of time. Here is a comprehensive guide on accessing them with ease.
- In order to access shortcuts in Excel, one must press the Alt key to display the ribbon.
- Then press the corresponding alphabet or number that is underlined along with ‘Alt key’ to utilize the shortcut.
- The next step is customizing the shortcut keys according to preferences using ‘Quick Access Toolbar.’
- To modify an existing hotkey within Quick Access Toolbar, hit both ‘Alt+7’ simultaneously.
- Another way of creating customized shortcuts will be through file->options->customize ribbon and defining preferred keystrokes.
Besides the above-mentioned steps for navigating the shortcuts in MS Excel, it’s imperative to know that hitting ‘Ctrl + A’ will select all cell ranges in one go.
Once my friend was working with voluminous data sets and had a severe deadline pressure. He struggled hard to navigate faster but could not find a way out as he was unaware of these keyboard commands. He turned up to his colleague for guidance and realized how much time he wasted by not knowing about Excel’s shortcut keys earlier.
Make your spreadsheets look less like a hot mess and more like a polished presentation with these formatting shortcuts.
Formatting shortcuts
For those who want to learn about modifying their Excel worksheets, these vital keyboard shortcuts will come in handy. With these formatting shortcuts, you’ll be able to transform all aspects of your worksheet from the font and colour options to borders and shading.
Here is a three-step guide on how to apply formatting shortcuts:
- Pick your target cell ranges and highlight them.
- Activate the format cells window with (CTRL + 1)
- Modify fonts (CTRL + SHIFT + F)
- Alter fill colours (ALT + H + H)
- Add or remove borders (CTRL + SHIFT + _ or |)
- Exit the customise cell settings by pressing “Enter” or “Tab.”
It is imperative to familiarise yourself with each formatting shortcut, as it saves valuable time when using Excel regularly. Moreover, these shortcuts are excellent for preparing presentations, worksheets, and drafting documents quickly.
If you need more tips for mastering Microsoft Excel easily and quickly, attend one of our webinars where experts lead interactive sessions that cover various essential topics relating to excel data manipulation. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to improve your skills!
Time to ditch the mouse and feel like a shortcut wizard with these Excel selection tricks.
Selection shortcuts
Expanding on the topic of efficiently selecting data in Excel, here are some Semantic NLP variations of ‘Selection shortcuts’ that could be used: ‘Optimized Data Highlighting Techniques’, ‘Efficient Data Selection Methods’, or ‘Maximizing Selection Productivity’.
Using these techniques can save time and improve accuracy. Here are six methods to try:
- Press Shift + Arrow keys to rapidly highlight selected data
- Hold Shift + Ctrl to highlight an entire column or row
- Click & Drag the mouse while holding down the right button to move or copy data
- Double-click a cell to select all corresponding values in that particular column or row
- Use Ctrl + Spacebar or Shift + Spacebar to quickly highlight an entire row or column, respectively
- Select non-contiguous areas by simply holding down the Ctrl key and clicking multiple areas with your mouse pointer.
Don’t forget that you can also use keyboard shortcuts like F2 (edit), F4 (cell reference toggle), and Alt + Enter (new line insertion) for even faster selection and productivity.
For anyone keen on maximizing their Excel skills, there are additional techniques that haven’t been covered yet. For example, automating repetitive tasks with macros and learning advanced formulas such as VLOOKUP can enhance proficiency and save lots of time when working with large datasets.
If you want to take your Excel game up a notch and optimize productivity, give some of these selection techniques a try today. Don’t miss out on potential time-saving hacks!
Who needs a calculator when you’ve got formula shortcuts in Excel? Let’s make math fun again!
Formula shortcuts
For beginners, it is essential to know the basic formulas and shortcuts of Excel. By knowing them, one can save time while working on large amounts of data. Streamlining the process of working with formulas can be done through ‘Formula accelerators.’
Here’s a simple 3-step guide for using Formula shortcuts in Excel:
- Start by selecting the cell where you want to add the formula.
- Then, type the equals sign (=) followed by the required function name (e.g. SUM).
- Finally, use the Tab key to select cells or ranges that you would like to include in your formula, or remove existing ones by pressing Shift+Tab.
It’s also important to remember that function names may differ across versions of Excel.
Moreover, one should note that these keyboard shortcuts may vary depending on their operating system and the version of Excel they are using.
Did you know that around 750 million people worldwide use Excel? (Source: Microsoft)
Excel shortcuts are like secret cheat codes, except you’re not breaking any rules…unless you’re using it for Candy Crush.
Miscellaneous shortcuts
Miscellaneous Shortcuts – Excel Quick Time Savers
Miscellaneous shortcuts are equally essential as other shortcuts when it comes to making the most out of your time on Excel. These general and quick actions help increase efficiency and productivity, hence saving precious hours in the long run.
Here are a few quick time-savers for you to start using right away:
- Shortcut to add or delete new rows or columns conveniently.
- Quickly highlighting all the values or formulas within a specific area with just one click instead of multiple individual clicks.
- Insert comments with ease to keep track of changes and personal notes for other users who may use the sheet next.
- Speedily adjust row heights and column widths to fit the desired content, with autofit shortcut keys, without the hassle of manual operations.
Make sure not to overlook these secret sauce Excel tips, that will surely make your work more effortless. Notably, while many of us would rely on mouse clicks or menus to perform functionalities, you can leverage these miscellaneous shortcuts for increased speeds and accuracy levels.
Don’t let hours get wasted by performing functions manually that can be accomplished within seconds using miscellaneous shortcuts. Therefore, learn and practice these overlooked tips to optimize your workflow before anyone else does!
Benefits of using shortcuts in Excel
Using shortcuts in Excel is a game-changer as it saves time, increases efficiency, and improves productivity. Here are some advantages of leveraging Excel shortcuts:
- Speed: Excel shortcuts eliminate the need to navigate through multiple menus or use a mouse, saving time and increasing work speed.
- Precision: Excel shortcuts help us select, copy, paste, move, and format data quickly, with fewer chances of errors.
- Ease of Use: Using Excel shortcuts can be learned and adapted quickly and easily, without the need for any extensive training.
It’s worth noting that some shortcuts may vary depending on your region and keyboard layout. Therefore, it’s best to learn the most commonly used shortcuts that fit your needs.
To become a true Excel power user, it’s crucial to use the right shortcuts. Don’t be afraid to experiment and practice using different Excel shortcuts to identify the most useful ones for your workflows.
Start using shortcuts today to streamline your Excel workflows and become more efficient. Remember, you don’t want to miss out on the benefits of using shortcuts in Excel!
Image credits: andersfogh.info by Adam Arnold
## Facts About “15 Essential Excel Shortcuts for Absolute Beginners”:
Some Facts About 15 Essential Excel Shortcuts for Absolute Beginners:
- ✅ Keyboard shortcuts in Excel can save time and increase productivity for users. (Source: Microsoft)
- ✅ The F2 key is a shortcut for editing cells in Excel. (Source: Excel Easy)
- ✅ The Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V keys are shortcuts for copy and paste in Excel. (Source: Excel Campus)
- ✅ The Ctrl + Z key is a shortcut for undoing the last action in Excel. (Source: Excel Jet)
- ✅ Using shortcuts like Ctrl + A to select all cells or Shift + Space to select an entire row can save time in Excel. (Source: GoSkills)
FAQs about 15 Essential Excel Shortcuts For Absolute Beginners
What are the 15 essential Excel shortcuts for absolute beginners?
The 15 essential Excel shortcuts for absolute beginners are:
1. Ctrl + C – Copy
2. Ctrl + V – Paste
3. Ctrl + X – Cut
4. Ctrl + Z – Undo
5. Ctrl + S – Save
6. Ctrl + A – Select All
7. Ctrl + F – Find
8. Ctrl + H – Replace
9. Ctrl + B – Bold
10. Ctrl + I – Italic
11. Ctrl + U – Underline
12. Ctrl + P – Print
13. F2 – Edit
14. F4 – Repeat Last Action
15. F11 – Create Chart
How can I memorize the Excel shortcuts?
You can memorize the Excel shortcuts by practicing them regularly while you work on different spreadsheets. Also, you can print out a list of shortcuts and keep it handy.
How can I save time by using Excel shortcuts?
Excel shortcuts can save you a lot of time. Instead of using the mouse to perform different actions, use the shortcuts to perform them quickly.
Can I customize the Excel shortcuts?
Yes, you can customize some of the shortcuts in Excel by going to File > Options > Customize Ribbon > Keyboard Shortcuts.
What are some other useful Excel shortcuts I can learn?
Some other useful Excel shortcuts you can learn are:
1. Ctrl + Page Up/Page Down – Move between worksheets
2. Ctrl + Shift + L – Apply Filter
3. Ctrl + Shift + : – Insert current time
4. Ctrl + ; – Insert current date
5. Alt + ; – Select visible cells only
Are there any online resources available to learn Excel shortcuts?
Yes, there are many online resources available that can help you learn Excel shortcuts. Some popular ones are:
– Microsoft’s official website for Excel
– Exceljet
– ShortcutWorld