Select One Word Left in Excel
This shortcut allows you to select one word to the left within a cell while editing text, useful for quickly highlighting sections of long text or formulas.
Keyboard Shortcut
| Windows | Mac |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + Shift + Left Arrow | Option + Shift + Left Arrow |
What Does This Shortcut Do?
Pressing this shortcut selects the word immediately to the left of the cursor within the active cell, stopping at spaces or punctuation marks.
How to Use the Shortcut
- Select the cell you want to edit
- Press F2 to enter edit mode
- Hold Ctrl + Shift (Windows) or Option + Shift (Mac)
- Press the Left Arrow key to select the previous word
Tips & Best Practices
- Combine with repeated presses to select multiple words quickly
- Works for editing long formulas or text entries
- Speeds up formatting or copying sections of text
FAQ
- Q: Can I select across multiple cells?
- No, this works only within the active cell in edit mode.
- Q: What if there is no space to the left?
- The selection stops at the beginning of the cell content.