Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of simultaneous key strokes that perform a particular task. Using these shortcuts (which often involve modifier keys such as command, option, control and shift) typically saves time because you don’t need to move your hand from the keyboard to the mouse. I use the following 23 shortcuts almost everyday and find they save me both time and mouse clicks. Even if a shortcut only saves you a few seconds, those seconds soon add up to minutes, especially when you perform the task frequently. Below I focus mostly on shortcuts that can be performed with the left hand, allowing you to activate them even when using the mouse — sorry, lefties 
. Leave me a comment to let me know what shortcuts you find helpful.
Shortcut |
Result |
All Applications |
|
|---|---|
| command-Q | Quit |
| command-S | Save |
| command-W | Close |
| command-option-esc | Force Quit |
| command-A | Select All |
| command-C | Copy |
| command-V | Paste |
| command-Z | Undo |
| command-shift-Z | Redo |
| command-comma | Preferences |
| command-H | Hide |
Apple Mail |
|
| command-N | New Message |
| command-R | Reply |
| command-shift-D | Send (tough to remember but saves time) |
Safari |
|
| command-T | New Tab |
| command-click (with mouse) | Open Link in New Tab (this is a must use) |
| command-left (arrow) | Back |
| command-right (arrow) | Forward |
Finder |
|
| command-I | Get Info |
| command-shift-4 | Screen Capture |
Other |
|
| command-option-control-8 | Invert Screen Colors (this works on Riley every time) |
| command-tab | Switch Applications |
| command-spacebar | Spotlight (easiest way to launch applications) |
That’s all for now, but be sure to let me know if you find these shortcuts useful or know of an important one I overlooked.
Command comma. Very handy.
Somewhere during the past week I read that you can use Ctrl-F3 to switch to the dock and use the arrow keys to move around and select an app. (If F3 is your volume control as it is on MacBooks, you need to add the FN key. Fn-Ctrl-F3.
Another instance when you can skip the mouse.
Jay | Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
@Jay - Thanks for commenting. By the way, I took a look at your website, very nice! Keep up the good work.
Franklin | Jan 25, 2008 | Reply
Nice post, Franklin. I find your shortcuts particularly useful when my fingers on one hand are covered with Cheeto cheese. I’ll try not to leave orange fingerprints on your keyboard when I wage my counterattack for all of those screen color inversions
Riley | Feb 3, 2008 | Reply
I like the CTRL+”scroll” zoom feature. I dont know if it works on all macs but I know it does with my macbook (two finger scrolling) and my g5 (mighty mouse scroll wheel).
zero zero one | Feb 14, 2008 | Reply
@zero - That one also works well as a prank when coworkers don’t know how to undo it.
Franklin | Feb 14, 2008 | Reply
command-` (apostrophe) switches between windows in an application
Ken | Feb 29, 2008 | Reply
@Ken - I wasn’t aware of that one, thanks!
Franklin | Mar 3, 2008 | Reply
Nice post! also so long as your middle mouse isn’t being used (for like expose) you can use it in safari/firefox to open link in new tab and in firefox it will also close the link you have the cursor over.
andy | Jun 9, 2008 | Reply
I know it is not a “keyboard” shortcut but Option (Alt) + click on the desktop will hide the active window.
Thanks for the Command Apostrophe shortcut. I knew there had to be a way to do that!
Dustin | Jun 19, 2008 | Reply
How is Spotlight the quickest way to launch apps? Have you tried QuickSilver? Much, much quicker.
Matt Moran | Jun 23, 2008 | Reply
@Andy - Good tip, thanks.
@Dustin - Wasn’t aware of that one, thanks.
Franklin | Jun 23, 2008 | Reply
@Matt - Are you running Tiger or Leopard? Spotlight changed with Leopard to highlight the first result - making it a great way to launch applications. Quicksilver is very nice and much more powerful than Spotlight but if you only use it for launching apps or opening files, why install extra software that you don’t need?
Franklin | Jun 23, 2008 | Reply
There’s also a “general” screen capture shortcut to capture the whole screen.
Command+Shift+3
Paolo | Jun 30, 2008 | Reply