Selecting a Sentence

Summary: You can select entire sentences using your mouse, if you first hold down the Ctrl key. This tip explains some of the ins and outs of using this handy editing technique. (This tip works with Microsoft Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, and Word 2003.)

Chances are good that you already know how to select words and paragraphs using the mouse. (To select a word, you double-click on it. To select a paragraph, you triple-click.) You may not have known, however, that you can use the mouse to select a sentence.

To select a sentence using the mouse, simply hold down the Ctrl key as you click anywhere within the sentence. The entire sentence, along with any trailing spaces, is selected. Note that Word does get a little confused if the sentence contains a period for an abbreviation (such as in Mr. or Mrs. or Dr.). If you have such a sentence, simply continue to hold down the Ctrl key as you move the mouse past the abbreviation. The rest of the sentence is then selected.

Tip #1062 applies to Microsoft Word versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

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