When we use the word processor of Microsoft Word We often find ourselves having to select all the words in a document, either to copy it or to delete it, but also to make changes. In this post we have written a brief guide to how to select everything in Word simply, quickly and efficiently.
Basically there are three methods to select all the content of a Word document when we use a Windows PC: by means of a keyboard shortcut, using the mouse or by means of the Select tool. We break it all down below:
Select all in Word with the mouse
If the document you are working with is not very long, perhaps one or two pages, the easiest way to select everything is to use the mouse. It is a method that we all use habitually, only that it is extended to the entire document: you simply have to click here on the first character or word of the document and then drag the cursor Scroll down to the end of the document.
It is a very simple system, although it is not very practical when we work with documents with many pages.
In addition to this, with the mouse we will be able to make all kinds of partial selections within the text of a document. For example:
- Double click to select a single word.
- Ctrl + click to select an entire sentence.
- Triple click to select an entire paragraph.
Select all in Word with keyboard shortcuts
For almost any action we want to perform in Word there is a key combination or, as it is commonly called, a "keyboard shortcut". For Windows users, direct access to this function is achieved by simultaneously pressing the keys Ctrl + A.
Only with this small action we will find the entire selected document, which is really useful in case of very large documents.
Use the Select function in Word
The third method that we can make serve is use the select tool which is integrated into Microsoft Word. We can find it in the upper bar, specifically on the right side. All you have to do is click on it, which will display a series of options (select objects, selection panel, etc.), among which we choose “Select all”.
In the bar there are other tools that will also help us when it comes to select a table within a Word document. First you have to click on the table, then, in the upper bar, go to "Table Tools" and "Design", to finally go to the "Table" group, click on "Select" and then on Select "table" .
How to select everything on an Android device?
These three basic methods that we have reviewed work perfectly if we are working with a Word document from a PC. However, there are many users who read, edit and share text documents in this format via mobile. Among other advantages, the word mobile app It allows us to import files from the memory of the device in use or from Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive and other cloud storage services.
If it is a question of making a total selection in Word through a Android device (phone or tablet), this is how we should proceed:
When we have the text open with the Word app on the phone, we use our fingers to long press on the screen on a word. In this way, the word will appear shaded in blue with two indicators, also in blue, at the beginning and at the end.
These two indicators can be dragged to the beginning and end of the document, respectively, so that all the text is selected. Once again, this is a very useful method when the document is not very large, but quite uncomfortable when it is very long.
Conclusion
The Select All function in Word can be very useful when applying general changes to a more or less extensive text, such as changing the font type or giving a new format to the entire document. In this way, the action is executed simultaneously on all the selected content, which saves us time and effort.
Among the methods presented in this post, there is one exclusively indicated to work on the screen of an Android phone or tablet. The other three are perfectly adequate for working on a Word template from your computer, although Choosing between one or the other method will depend on the type of document and, above all, its extension. When it is a very long text, with many pages, it is better to use the keyboard shortcut or the “Select” tool from the Word bar.
In any case, we have many methods available to use in different situations.