Both the WordPress Visual editor and HTML editor accept keyboard shortcuts. The built in WordPress Visual editor is based on TinyMCE where some of the shortcuts come from.
Since I’m a keyboard guy, I collected some information on keyboard shortcuts over time, and below is a table with what I collected for both editors.
That, combined with distraction free writing really gives WordPress a boost.
Most of the shortcut keys use the modifier keys ALT plus SHIFT.
Note that on a Mac, you will have to use the “command” key in stead of the “CTRL” key.
Visual Editor
You can see what these shortcuts do in the WordPress Visual Editor support page.
| Function | Shortcut Keys | Alternative Shortcut Keys |
|---|---|---|
| Undo | CTRL + z | |
| Redo | CTRL + y | |
| Headers (H1, H2, H3, …, H6) | CTRL + 1 … 6 | |
| Paragraph | CTRL + 7 | |
| Format | CTRL + 8 | (doesn’t work on a Mac) |
| Address | CTRL + 9 | |
| Bold | ALT + SHIFT + b | CTRL + b |
| Italic | ALT + SHIFT + i | CTRL + i |
| Underline | CTRL + u | |
| Strike through with red (delete) | ALT + SHIFT + d | |
| Align left | ALT + SHIFT + l | |
| Align center | ALT + SHIFT + c | |
| Align right | ALT + SHIFT + r | |
| Blockquote | ALT + SHIFT + q | |
| Unquote/outdent | ALT + SHITF + w | (doesn’t work on a Mac) |
| Code | ALT + SHIFT + c | (doesn’t work, is “align center”) |
| Unordered List (ul) | ALT + SHIFT + u | |
| Ordered List (ol) | ALT + SHIFT + o | |
| List item (li) | ALT + SHIFT + l | (doesn’t work, is “align left”) |
| A Hyperlink (a) | ALT + SHIFT + a | |
| Line break | SHIFT + Enter | |
| Read more | ALT + SHIFT + t | |
| Next page | ALT + SHIFT + p | |
| Media insert (image/video/…) | ALT + SHIFT + m | (on a Mac, it also inserts a Ã) |
| ins | ALT + SHIFT + s | (doesn’t work on a Mac) |
| del | ALT + SHIFT + d | (doesn’t work on a Mac) |
| Distraction free writing | ALT + SHIFT + g | |
| Enable “Kitchen Sink” Toolbar | ALT + SHIFT + z | |
| View HTML code | ALT + SHIFT + e | (doesn’t work on a Mac) |
| Advanced Editor | ALT + SHIFT + v | (doesn’t work) |
| Spell check | ALT + SHIFT + n | |
| Rich Editor Help | ALT + SHIFT + h |
- Unused ALT + SHIFT + letter combinations: f, y, j, k, x.
HTML editor (don’t work on a Mac)
Though the sources I used (see bullets below) indicate the below table should work, they don’t.
So: no HTML shortcuts on Mac or PC, which is a shame.
The only reason I use the HTML editor once in a while are these:
- tidying of excess HTML formatting I accidentally pasted in.
(I still haven’t found the ultimiate HTML cleanup tool) - Putting XML into source code (using XML in WordPress fails as soon as you VIEW your post in the Rich editor)
| Function | Shortcut Keys | Alternative Shortcut Keys |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | ALT + SHIFT + b | |
| Italic | ALT + SHIFT + i | |
| Strikethrough | ALT + SHIFT + d | |
| Blockquote | ALT + SHIFT + q | |
| Code | ALT + SHIFT + c | |
| Unordered List | ALT + SHIFT + u | |
| Ordered List | ALT + SHIFT + o | |
| A Hyperlink | ALT + SHIFT + a | |
| Read more | ALT + SHIFT + t | |
| View HTML code | ALT + SHIFT + e | |
| Headers (H1, H2, H3, …) | Ctrl + corresponding number | |
| Insert date/time | ALT + SHIFT + s | |
| Insert IMG URL | ALT + SHIFT + m | |
| List Item (li) | Alt + SHIFT + l | |
| Publish the Post | Alt + SHIFT + p | |
| Redo | CTRL + y | |
| Undo | CTRL+z |
–jeroen
via:
- Shortcut Keys Used In WordPress Editor.
- 30 WordPress Editor Keyboard Shortcuts.
- 35 Useful Keyboard Shortcut Keys For WordPress Users.
- TinyMCE – Forum / TinyMCE / Tips, Tricks & HowTo’s / List of Keyboard Shortcuts in TinyMCE?.
- WordPress 3.2 Released: Faster, Prettier, Powerful « Lorelle on WordPress.
- Writing and Formatting Poetry — Support — WordPress.com.
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