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ALT KEY: Stands for Alternate. Usually used in combination with other keys to tell the computer to do something special.

ARROW KEYS: These are keys that help you move around in a document. They work differently in different programs and sometimes only move the cursor and sometimes move the scroll bar, especially after clicking once on the scroll arrow. Try them in several different programs to see what they affect as they can be quite useful to move around efficiently without using the mouse.

BACKSPACE KEY: The character to the left of the cursor disappears. Deletes any highlighted information in one operation as well (see the Del Key).

NOTE: If you’ve goofed, hold down ALT and press the backspace key. This action undoes your last mistake in most Windows programs. Holding down the CTRL key and pressing the ‘Z" key many times undoes your mistake.

CAPS LOCK KEY: This key works slightly different than a typewriter’s Caps Lock in that it only locks the letters of the alphabet on the keyboard, not every key.

NOTE: It also acts as a toggle switch and does not turn off automatically. If you left it on and then tried to type in a password later and the password does not work check for the little light on the keyboard that tells you Caps Lock is engaged. Passwords are usually case sensitive.

CTRL KEY: Stands for Control. Works like the Shift Key. Mainly used in combination with other keys to tell the computer to do something special.

DEL KEY: Stands for Delete. The character sitting to the right of the cursor disappears. Any highlighted information disappears also using this key; thus a whole paragraph or page can be removed simply by highlighting it and then hitting delete, a much faster operation than backspacing or deleting each character individually. Also used in combination with other keys to tell the computer to perform a special operation.

END KEY: Used to take you to the end of something. When used by itself or in combination with the Control key will take you to the end of a line of text. It is especially useful when working with large documents.

ENTER KEY: Works like a typewriter’s Return key. The word processing software contains a feature called Word Wrap. This feature sends text to the next line automatically. So just press enter at the end of each paragraph, or when you wish to create an extra space. It is similar to telling the computer OK now GO.

ESC KEY: Stands for Escape. Supposed to tell the computer to stop doing whatever function the user last told it to do. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. The user will just have to try it to see if it works in the particular operation they are trying at the moment. Also used in combination with other keys to perform a specific function.

FUNCTION KEYS: Sit along the top of the keyboard and boss around programs. For example pressing F1 will bring up help in many Windows programs. Function keys perform various tasks in different programs. Learn which do what in by reading the accompanying literature.

HOME KEY: Used to take you to the beginning of something. When used by itself or in combination with the Control key will take you to the beginning. It is especially useful when working with large documents.

INS KEY: Stands for Insert on the keyboard. As you type, any existing data are scooted to the right, letting you add stuff. The opposite of Insert is Overwrite, where everything you type replaces existing text. Press Insert to toggle between the two modes.

PG DN: Stands for Page Down. . Is especially useful when working in long documents rather than clicking on the little arrow in the scroll bar and moving one line at a time.

PG UP: Stands for Page Up. Is especially useful when working in longer documents rather than clicking on the little arrow in the scroll bar and moving one line at a time.

PRINT SCREEN: Sometimes called "Prt Scr" takes a picture of everything showing on the screen and sends it to the Clipboard where you can paste it into your document or you can print it by paste and print it from the Paint program.

TAB KEY: A Tab is generally equal to five spaces at the default setting When filling out a form in Windows, pressing Tab moves you from one field or box to the next.

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