Select one word to the right
To select the next word: press Ctrl+Shift+→ on Windows, or Option+Shift+→ (⌥⇧→) on Mac. Keep pressing to extend the selection word by word.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select one word right | ⌥⇧→ | Ctrl+Shift+→ | |
| Select one word left | ⌥⇧← | Ctrl+Shift+← | |
| Select to end of line | ⌘⇧→ | Shift+End | |
| Select whole paragraph down | ⌥⇧↓ | Ctrl+Shift+↓ |
Select forward by word on Windows
Hold Ctrl+Shift and tap → to highlight the word after the cursor; each press extends the selection one more word to the right.
Select forward by word on Mac
On macOS use ⌥⇧→ to select the next word. For the end of the line instead, press ⌘⇧→.
Everyday use
Forward word-selection is ideal for trimming a sentence, replacing a phrase, or bolding a term. The keystroke is the same across Windows and Mac apart from the Ctrl/Option swap, so the habit transfers cleanly.
FAQ
How do I select one word to the right on Windows?
Hold Ctrl+Shift and press the Right arrow (Ctrl+Shift+→). Each press adds the next word to the selection.
What is the select-word-right shortcut on Mac?
Press Option+Shift+Right (⌥⇧→). Each press extends the selection one word to the right.
How do I select to the end of the line?
Use Shift+End on Windows or ⌘⇧→ on Mac to select from the cursor to the line end.