Hot keys are keyboard shortcuts for use in a variety of computer programs, such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.) and internet browsers. Hot keys also allow you to increase your productivity, especially on a laptop, because you aren’t constant having to navigate around your screen with your touchpad. Hot keys allow you to focus your attention entirely on the keyboard as you are writing, decreasing your multitasking and and increasing your overall focus.
While there are an incredible number of hot keys in existence, I’ve created a list of hot keys including the ones I use most frequently. I have broken the lists up by program/use, so there may be some duplicates.

Microsoft Office

Control + A = Select All
Control + B = bold text (works on selected text and changing formatting prior to writing)
Control + C = copy text
Control + E = centers text
Control + F = find in document
Control + H = find and replace
Control + I = italicize text (works on selected text and changing formatting prior to writing)
Control + J = justify text (works on selected text and changing formatting prior to writing)
Control + L = aligns text to the left
Control + N = creates a new document
Control + P = opens print menu
Control + R = aligns text to the right
Control + S =opens save menu
Control + U = underline text (works on selected text and changing formatting prior to writing)
Control + V = paste selected text/image
Control + W = closes window WITHOUT saving
Control + X =cuts selected text/image
Control + Y = redo
Control + Z = undo
Control + Shift + . (>) = enlarges selected text size by font intervals (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, etc.)
Control + Shift + , (<) = decreased selected text size by font intervals (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, etc.)
Control + ] = increased text font size by 1
Control + [ = decreased text font size by 1
 

Internet Browser

Control + A = Select All (entire webpage)
Control + B = bold text in text editor
Control + C = copy text
Control + E = centers text in text editor
Control + F = find on page
Control + H = open history
Control + I = italicize text in text editor
Control + J = justify text in text editor
Control + L = highlights URL/address bar
Control + L = aligns text to the left in text editor
Control + N = opens a new window
Control + P = opens print menu
Control + R = aligns text to the right in text editor
Control + S = opens save menu
Control + T = opens a new tab in current window
Control + U = underline text in text editor
Control + V = paste selected text/image
Control + W = closes current tab (Will not save anything in the open tab)
Control + X =cuts selected text/image
Control + Y = redo
Control + Z = undo
Control + Tab = shift between currently opened tabs
Control, Shift, + = zoom in on webpage
Control, Shift, – = zoom out on webpage
Tab = quickly jump down when entering text into multiple form fields
Shift + Tab = return to the previous form field
 
 

Windows Hot Keys

Alt + Tab = Switch between open programs
Windows Key + D = Minimizes everything and takes you to your desktop
Windows Key + L = Locks your computer screen
Windows Key + Tab = Switch between open programs
 

Video Demonstration

I realize this is a lot of information to take in and describing it just with text can be somewhat confusing. So, I’m including a demonstration video to show you what these hot keys looks like in use: