Common Computer Abbreviations

Operating Systems and Data Storage

 BIOS - This is the Basic Input Output System, which controls the computer,
telling it what operations to perform. These instructions are on a chip that connects to
the motherboard.
 BYTE - A byte is a storage unit for data. KB is a kilobyte (1024 bytes); MB is a
megabyte (1 million bytes); and GB is a gigabyte (1000 megabytes).
 CPU - This stands for the Central Processing Unit of the computer. This is like
the computer's brain.
 HDD - This is an acronym for Hard Disk Drive, the traditional spinning drives that
store information.
 LCD - This stands for Liquid Crystal Display, a type of computer screen.
 OS - This is the Operating System of the computer. It is the main program that
runs on a computer and begins automatically when the computer is turned on.
 PC - This is the abbreviation for personal computer. It originally referred to
computers that were IBM compatible.
 PDF - This represents the Portable Document Format, which displays files in a
format that is ready for the web.
 RAM - This stands for Random Access Memory, which is the space inside the
computer that can be accessed at one time. If you increase the amount of RAM, then
you will increase the computer's speed. This is because more of a particular program is
able to be loaded at one time.
 ROM - This is Read Only Memory, which is the instruction for the computer and
cannot be altered.
 SSD - This acronym stands for Solid State Drive, a more modern type of hard
drive that has no moving parts.
 VGA - The Video Graphics Array is a system for displaying graphics. It was
developed by IBM.

Internet, Networking, and Connectivity

 FTP - This is a service called File Transport Protocol, which moves a file
between computers using the Internet.
 HTML - HyperText Markup Language formats information so it can be
transported on the Internet.
 HTTP - Hypertext Transfer Protocol is a set of instructions for the software that
controls the movement of files on the Internet.
 IP - This stands for Internet Protocol which is the set of rules that govern the
systems connected to the Internet. IP Address is a digital code specific to each
computer that is hooked up to the Internet.
 ISP - The Internet Service Provider is the company which provides Internet
service so you can connect your computer to the Internet.
 LAN - This stands for Local Area Network, which consists of the servers that your
computer connects to in your local area.
 URL - This is the Uniform Resource Locator, which is a path to a certain file on
the World Wide Web. It is what you may also call the web address.
 USB - The Universal Serial Bus is used for communications between certain
devices. It can connect keyboards, cameras, printers, mice, flash drives, and other
devices. Its use has expanded from personal computers to smartphones and video
games, and is used as a power cord to connect devices to a wall outlet to charge them.
 WYSIWYG - This initialism stands for What You See Is What You Get. It is
pronounced "wizziwig" and basically means that the printer will print what you see on
your monitor. It also describes web design programs where what you see in the
program is how the website will appear to the end user.
 GIGO – Garbage in Garbage out

Common Email and Chat Abbreviations

Email and web communication require certain abbreviations of their own, including
symbols that stand in for facial expressions. 

Email Abbreviations

You’ll also see some of these email abbreviations used in texting and online messaging.

 AFK - Away From Keyboard
 BC - Blind Copy
 CIAO - Check It All Out
 GAL - Get A Life
 GMTA - Great Minds Think Alike
 J4F - Just For Fun
 KISS - Keep it Simple, Stupid
 LOL - Laughing Out Loud
 Re: - Regarding
 TIC - Tongue In Cheek
 TL;DR - Too Long, Didn't Read

Alt + F: File menu opti ons in current program.

Alt + E: Edit opti ons in current program
F1: Universal Help in almost every Windows program.
Ctrl + A: Select all text.
Ctrl + X: Cut
Shift + Del: Cut selected item.
Ctrl + C: Copy selected item.
Ctrl + Ins: Copy selected item.
Ctrl + V: Paste selected item.
Shift + Ins: Paste.
Home: Goes to beginning of current line.
Ctrl + Home: Goes to beginning of document.
End: Goes to end of current line.
Ctrl + End: Goes to end of document.
Shift + Home: Highlights from current positi on to beginning of line.
Shift + End: Highlights from current positi on to end of line.
Ctrl + Left arrow: Moves one word to the left at a ti me.
Ctrl + Right arrow: Moves one word to the right at a ti me.
Shortcut Keys and their Functi ons: Below is a listi ng of all the major shortcut keys in
Microsoft Word.
Shortcut Keys and their Descripti ons
Ctrl + A: Select all contents of the page.
Ctrl + B: Bold highlighted selecti on.
Ctrl + C: Copy selected text.
Ctrl + X: Cut selected text.
Ctrl + P: Open the print window.
Ctrl + F: Open fi nd box.
Ctrl + I: Italic highlighted selecti on.
Ctrl + K: Insert link (Shortcut Keys and their Functi ons).
Ctrl + U: Underline highlighted selecti on.
Ctrl + V: Paste.
Ctrl + Y: Redo the last acti on performed.
Ctrl + Z: Undo last acti on.
Ctrl + L: Aligns the line or selected text to the left of the screen.
Ctrl + E: Aligns the line or selected text to the center of the screen.
Ctrl + R: Aligns the line or selected text to the right of the screen.
Ctrl + M: Indent the paragraph.
Ctrl + Shift + F: Change the font.
Ctrl + Shift + >: Increase selected font +1pts up to 12pt and then increases font +2pts.
Ctrl + ]: Increase selected font +1pts.
Ctrl + Shift + <: Decrease selected font -1pts if 12pt or lower, if above 12 decreases font
by +2pt.
Ctrl + [: Decrease selected font -1pts.
Ctrl + Shift + *: View or hide non printi ng characters.
Ctrl + L: Moves one word to the left .
Ctrl + R: Moves one word to the right.
Ctrl + : Moves to the beginning of the line or paragraph.
Ctrl + : Moves to the end of the paragraph.
Ctrl + Del: Deletes word to right of cursor.
Ctrl + Backspace: Deletes word to left of cursor.
Ctrl + End: Moves the cursor to the end of the document.
Ctrl + Home: Moves the cursor to the beginning of the document.
Ctrl + Spacebar: Reset highlighted text to the default font.
Ctrl + 1: Single-space lines.
Ctrl + 2: Double-space lines.
Ctrl + 5: 1.5-line spacing.
Ctrl + Alt + 1: Changes text to heading 1.
Ctrl + Alt + 2: Changes text to heading 2.
Ctrl + Alt + 3: Changes text to heading 3.
Alt + Shift + D: Insert the current date.
Alt + Shift + T: Insert the current ti me.
In additi on to the above shortcut keys users can also use their mouse as a method of
quickly do something commonly performed.
Below some are examples of mouse shortcuts.
Mouse shortcuts and their Descripti ons
Click, hold, and drag: Selects text from where you click and hold to the point you drag
and let go.
Double-click: If double-click a word, selects the complete word.
Double-click: Double-clicking on the left , center, or right of a blank line will make the
alignment of the text left , center, or right aligned.
Double-click: Double-clicking anywhere aft er text on a line will set a tab stop.
Triple-click: Selects the line or paragraph of the text the mouse triple-clicked.
Ctrl + Mouse wheel: Zooms in and out of document (Shortcut Keys and their Functi ons).
100 Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 10
A list of 100+ keyboard short-cuts for Windows 10, including shortcuts for copy, paste,
and more.
Here's the full list of keyboard short-cuts for Windows 10 - all the Windows 10 keyboard
shortcuts you need to know
Keyboard shortcut → Acti on
Windows key → Open or close Start Menu.
Windows key + A → Open Acti on center.
Windows key + C → Open Cortana in listening mode.
Windows key + D → Display or hide the desktop.
Windows key + E → Open File Explorer.
Windows key + G → Open Game bar when a game is open.
Windows key + H → Open the Share charm.
Windows key + I → Open Setti ngs.
Windows key + K → Open the Connect quick acti on.
Windows key + L → Lock your PC or switch accounts.
Windows key + M → Minimize all windows.
Windows key + R → Open Run dialog box.
Windows key + S → Open Search.
Windows key + U → Open Ease of Access Center.
Windows key + X → Open Quick Link menu.
Windows key + Number  → Open the app pinned to the taskbar in the positi on indicated
by the number.
Windows key + Left arrow key → Snap app windows left .
Windows key + Right arrow key  → Snap app windows right.
Windows key + Up arrow key → Maximize app windows.
Windows key + Down arrow key  → Minimize app windows.
Windows key + Comma → Temporarily peek at the desktop.
Windows key + Ctrl + D → Add a virtual desktop.
Windows key + Ctrl + Left or Right arrow  → Switch between virtual desktops.
Windows key + Ctrl + F4 → Close current virtual desktop.
Windows key + Enter → Open Narrator.
Windows key + Home → Minimize all but the acti ve desktop window (restores all
windows on second stroke).
Windows key + PrtScn → Capture a screenshot and save in Screenshots folder.
Windows key + Shift + Up arrow  → Stretch the desktop window to the top and bott om of
the screen.
Windows key + Tab → Open Task view.
Windows key + "+" key → Zoom in using the magnifi er.
Windows key + "-" key → Zoom out using the magnifi er.
Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Open Task Manager.
Alt + Tab → Switch between open apps.
Alt + Left arrow key → Go back.
Alt + Right arrow key → Go forward.
Alt + Page Up → Move up one screen.
Alt + Page down → Move down one screen.
Ctrl + Alt +Tab → View open apps
Ctrl + C → Copy selected items to clipboard.
Ctrl + X → Cut selected items.
Ctrl + V → Paste content from clipboard.
Ctrl + A → Select all content.
Ctrl + Z → Undo an acti on.
Ctrl + Y → Redo an acti on.
Ctrl + D → Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.
Ctrl + Esc → Open the Start Menu.
Ctrl + Shift  → Switch the keyboard layout.
Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Open Task Manager.
Ctrl + F4 → Close the acti ve window.
20 Microsoft Word Shortcut Keys
 Ctrl+W → Close the active window / document.
 Ctrl+Z → Undo an action.
 Ctrl+Y → Redo the last action or repeat an action.
 Ctrl+S → Save a document.
 Ctrl+P → Print a document.
 Ctrl+K → Insert a hyperlink.
 Alt+Left → Arrow Go back one page.
 Alt+Right → Arrow Go forward one page.
 Ctrl+C → Copy selected text or graphics to the Office Clipboard.
 Ctrl+V → Paste the most recent addition to the Office Clipboard.
 Ctrl+Shift+A → Format all letters as capitals.
 Ctrl+B → Applies or removes bold formatting.
 Ctrl+I → Applies or removes italic formatting.
 Ctrl+= → Apply subscript formatting (automatic spacing).
 Alt, F, A → Save As.
 Alt, S, T, I → Insert Table of Contents.
 Alt, S, T, R → Remove Table of Contents.
 Alt, W, F → Full Screen Reading – View > Document Views > Full Screen Reading.
 Alt, W, R → Ruler. View > Show/Hide > Ruler.
 Alt, F, X → Exit Word.