Welcome to Basic Computing’s Learning Hub. What will you learn today?WelcomeWelcome to Basic Computing’s Learning Hub.What will you learn today?
WINDOWS SHORTCUT MASTERY · LESSON 14
Put a line beneath text: Ctrl + U
FREE LESSON
3 minutesWindows 11Beginner
Section 1 of 33 minutes
Learn at your own pace
UNDERSTAND THE IDEA
When this helps
What am I going to do?
Read the idea, learn the key combination and answer a question about when it would help.
What will I learn?
Know when and how to put a line beneath text.
An underline places a line beneath chosen text. It is one way to mark a heading or phrase in a document, though on the web people may mistake underlined words for a clickable link.
LEARN THE SHORTCUT
The keys and what happens
Where it works Editors that support text formatting, such as Word
Ctrl+U
Key names are shown separately, not as a keyboard layout. A + between key boxes means combine them. A box named Plus means the actual Plus key. Follow the steps below for alternatives.
1How to use it
While editing a formatted document, hold the left mouse button and drag across the words to select them, then release it. Hold Ctrl, tap U once, then release both keys. A line should appear underneath. Repeat the shortcut with the same text selected to remove it.
2What to watch for
This is a formatting shortcut inside supporting editors. On many ordinary browser pages, Ctrl + U opens the page’s source code instead. If that happens, click the small X beside the new source tab’s title to close it and return to the document’s editor. Underlining alone does not create a link.
You can learn this shortcut without pressing it here. The real keys act on your computer or the app you are using.
CHOOSE THE USEFUL ACTION
When would you use it?
A printed worksheet needs a line beneath one section heading. You are editing that heading in Word. Which change meets the request?
Apply underline to the selected heading.
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