Highlighting Text Using the Keyboard Only

Frank noted that it seems the Highlight tool is only accessible by using the mouse. He prefers to not use the mouse, preferring the keyboard instead. He wondered if there was a way to highlight selected words using just the keyboard.

Before answering, there is something that needs to be clarified: There is some ambiguity when it comes to the word "highlight." For instance, if I say I am going to highlight a word, some people think that means I am going to double-click the word. This isn't highlighting; it is selecting. In Word parlance, the two words have very specific meanings. You select text before you are going to do something with it, such as applying an editing or formatting command. Highlighting, on the other hand, is a formatting task accomplished by using the Highlight tool. (The Highlight tool is available on the Formatting toolbar or, in Word 2007, in the Font group of the ruler's Home tab. It is analogous to a highlighter you use to mark text on a printed page.) In short, you first select text, and then you highlight the selected text by using the Highlight tool.

The ambiguity around the word "highlight" was evident when WordTips subscribers were asked how they can highlight text using the keyboard only, and not the mouse. Many were quick to respond with ways that told how to use the keyboard to select text, such as holding down the Shift key while using the arrow keys or using any number of other selection methods. While this is helpful, it is only part of the solution. The other part deals with how you can actually highlight whatever text has been selected, using just the keyboard.

In Word 97 through Word 2003, there is no built-in shortcut that will apply a highlight to text. In Word 2007 you can use the Alt+Ctrl+H shortcut. If you are using an earlier version of Word, you can easily create your own shortcut by following these steps:

1. Choose Customize from the Tools menu. Word displays the Customize dialog box.
2. Click on the Keyboard button. Word displays the Customize Keyboard dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. Using the Categories list, choose All Commands.
4. Using the Commands list, choose Highlight.
5. Position the insertion point in the Press New Shortcut Key text box.
6. Press the shortcut key you want to use for highlighting. For instance, you might want to press Alt+H.
7. Click Assign. This assigns the shortcut key to the Highlight command.
8. Click on OK to dismiss the Customize Keyboard dialog box.
9. Click on OK to dismiss the Customize dialog box.

You can now use the shortcut key you specified in step 6 to highlight any text you've selected.