Academy · Computer basics · CB-05

CB-05 · Computer basics

Keyboard Basics

Fix typos, copy/paste, and drive tabs from the keyboard.

20–30 min Needs: CB-04 helpful Outcome: five high-value key habits

Who this is for

Hunt-and-peck is fine — this is about a few high-value keys, not typing school. Copy/paste already automatic? Skip to CB-06.

The emergency brake (if you feel stuck or panicked)

  • Pasted the wrong thing? Press Cmd+Z (Mac) or Ctrl+Z (Windows) to undo. One step back, instantly.
  • Text selected and you didn’t mean it? Click once anywhere to drop the selection. Nothing is lost.

Fix a typo with Backspace

About 5 min

  1. Open Notes (Mac) or Notepad (Windows). Type one short sentence.
  2. Use Backspace (Mac: the Delete ⌫ key) to erase one word.
  3. Press Enter for a second line. Retype the word correctly.

Copy and paste once

About 10 min

  1. Type: My consult question is about tabs.
  2. Select the sentence (click-drag across it, or triple-click).
  3. Copy — Cmd+C (Mac) or Ctrl+C (Windows). Click elsewhere. Paste — Cmd+V / Ctrl+V.

Try this

Copy your sentence and paste it on a new line.

You should see: the same sentence twice. If paste “did nothing,” click the destination first so it has focus — then paste again.

Undo: pasted twice? Cmd/Ctrl+Z removes the last paste.
Don't

Paste passwords into chatbots, shared docs, or this Academy site. Copy/paste is for ordinary text — never secrets.

Drive the browser by keyboard

About 5–10 min

On Mac the special key is Command (⌘). On Windows it is Ctrl. Siblings — not interchangeable on the wrong machine.

  1. With the browser focused: Cmd/Ctrl+T, type a site, press Enter.
  2. Close that tab: Cmd/Ctrl+W.
  3. Restore it: Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+T. (Old friend from CB-04.)

Sticky-note trick: write Mac = ⌘ · Windows = Ctrl and put it on the monitor bezel.

Success check

  • Fixed a typo with Backspace
  • Copy + paste once successfully
  • Used Cmd/Ctrl+T and Cmd/Ctrl+W once each

Common failure modes

FailureFix
Cmd vs Ctrl mixed upSticky note: Mac = ⌘ · Windows = Ctrl
Paste “does nothing”Click the destination field first so it has focus
Selected the wrong textClick once to place the cursor; drag slowly

Don't paste secrets / get help

Don’t paste passwords into chatbots or shared docs. Get help if the OS started treating key holds as repeats (sticky/filter keys) — that’s a settings visit, not a failure.

Tried it twice and it still feels like a wall?

Stop here — don't beat yourself up. Book a free 15-minute consult and we'll do it together on screen share.

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