5 MS Word Hotkeys To Speed Up Your Transcription
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Transcription work demands precision, speed, and an efficient workflow to manage the large volumes of text that are processed daily. If you’re a transcriptionist, you’re likely already adept at using Microsoft Word, but knowing a few key hotkeys can significantly enhance your productivity. Here are five essential hotkeys that you should master to streamline your workflow and improve efficiency.
1. Ctrl + Enter: Insert a Page Break
Inserting page breaks manually is time-consuming, especially with lengthy legal documents. The Ctrl + Enter hotkey instantly inserts a page break, allowing you to start a new page without taking your hand off the keyboard. This is useful for separating different sections of a document or adhering to formatting guidelines.
2. Ctrl + G: Go to a Page, Bookmark, Footnote, Table, Comment, Graphic, or Other Location
No one wants to manually scroll through a long document (especially a multiple-hour trial) just to find one specific page. The Ctrl + G hotkey opens the "Go To" dialog box, which lets you jump to various elements like pages, bookmarks, footnotes, tables, comments, and graphics. You may not need to use this hotkey all the time, but when you do, it’s a game-changer.
3. Alt + Shift + D: Insert the Current Date
Keeping track of dates is crucial in transcription work, particularly in documents where you need accurate dates or have to input the day you transcribed a file. The Alt + Shift + D hotkey inserts the current date at the cursor’s position. This quick shortcut means you can add the date without disrupting your typing flow by looking at a calendar.
4. Alt + Shift + T: Insert the Current Time
Similar to the date, recording exact times can be equally important. The Alt + Shift + T hotkey allows you to insert the current time wherever your cursor is positioned. This is handy for timestamping entries, creating logs, or noting the time of specific events within your transcription.
5. Ctrl + Shift + E: Turn Track Changes On or Off
Editing and reviewing transcriptions often require tracking changes made to a document. The Ctrl + Shift + E hotkey toggles the track changes feature on and off. This tool is vital if you need to collaborate with others on a file and want to keep a record of edits and revisions.
Maximizing Your Workflow Efficiency
Mastering these hotkeys can significantly enhance your workflow efficiency as a transcriptionist. Here’s a quick recap of the hotkeys:
Ctrl + Enter: Insert a page break
Ctrl + G: Go to a page, bookmark, footnote, table, comment, graphic, or other location
Alt + Shift + D: Insert the current date
Alt + Shift + T: Insert the current time
Ctrl + Shift + E: Turn track changes on or off
Incorporating these hotkeys into your daily routine can save valuable time by keeping your hands on the keyboard instead of shifting to the mouse. Experiment with them and see how they transform your transcription process.
For more tips and tricks on improving your transcription workflow, be sure to check out our other articles on our blog.
Happy transcribing!
