Did you know that WordPress keyboard shortcuts existed? This feature is overlooked in most web applications even though it’s commonly used by many people using regular software (Ctrl + S or Ctrl + C anyone?).
For anyone who uses WordPress a lot, knowing these shortcuts is pretty much a necessity in order to be more productive. Even for those who do not have to spend a lot of time working on WordPress, learning these simple shortcuts can let you get more done in less time.
Rich Text Editor
Pressing Shift + Alt + H opens up the help window within the rich text editor. If you navigate to the Hotkeys tab, you will find the whole list of shortcuts for the rich text editor. A lot of these WordPress shortcuts are the same as those for Microsoft Office such as the ones for cut, copy, paste, italic, bold, etc. However, there are many others which are specific to WordPress. For instance, these are shortcuts for two functions that are repeatedly used while posting.
Alt + Shift + m = Insert Image
Alt + Shift + n = Check Spelling
The Kitchen Sink
Shift + Alt + Z toggles the Kitchen Sink on and off. Clicking on the Kitchen Sink button on the basic toolbar gives you access to an extended toolbar on the dashboard, which contains the advanced formatting options. Using this shortcut will save you the time needed to go back to the button each time you need more formatting options. This may not seem like a big deal, but if you combine the use of this keyboard shortcut with others, the time savings will add up.
Distraction free writing
WordPress provides a beautiful white backdrop for writing with just the words floating on it. This mode helps you to not be distracted by any other elements on the screen and allows you to concentrate solely on writing. Distraction free writing can be accessed by pressing Shift + Alt + W.
Comments
Another time consuming job while running a blog or a website is moderating comments. Shortcuts really come in handy for getting through them quickly. To enable shortcuts in the comments section, you have to check the Keyboard Shortcuts box which you can find in Users > Your Profile. Here are a few of the shortcuts that will speed up the process. These perform the specified action on a selected comment.
A – Approve comment
U – Unapprove comment
R – Reply to a comment
D – Delete comment
Z – Undo a deleted comment or restore it from Trash
Mastering these easy keyboard shortcuts for WordPress will make it a lot easier to work with and a lot less cumbersome to navigate around the interface. At first you may need to make a conscious effort to remember to use the keyboard shortcuts rather than reaching for the mouse each time and it may not seem like you are saving a lot of time. But with time and practice, using the keyboard shortcuts in WordPress will become second nature to you and you will wonder how you ever managed without them.