Cut Copy, and Paste Tutorial

Even if you know next to nothing about using a computer, cut, copy, and paste are simple tasks you should learn.  This tutorial teaches the easy and very handy skill of “Cut Copy & Paste”.  There are several ways to copy and paste; choose the way that is easiest for you to remember.

First, we will learn how to copy and paste.

• Place your mouse pointer in front of the first word of the text you want to copy; the pointer will turn into an I-like symbol. Hold down your left mouse button and drag over the text you wish to copy. The block of text will change color as you drag. Try it in the box below. 
  • An alternative way is to click in front of the first word, then while holding the “Shift” key, click at the end of the text you want to select. The selected text will change color.

• Right-click.
• A menu will appear near your cursor. Select Copy from this menu. (This copies the selected text to the computer’s temporary memory)

Here are two additional ways to copy the selected text to the computer memory. Try each, then use the one that is easiest for you.

• First optional way to copy.
  • After the text is selected or highlighted, if your program has an “Edit” tool area, click it and select “Copy” from the drop-down.  Some programs (Google Chrome browser, for example) have a “Tool Icon’ if so, click the tool and choose “Copy”.
• The second option is my favorite because it’s so fast.
  • After the text is selected or highlighted, hold down the “Ctrl” key and press the “C” key.  Ctrl + c 

Any of the above techniques copies the selected text to the computer’s temporary memory.

• Move to the document or location where you wish to paste the text. Use the blank white box below to paste the text into.
• Position your cursor where you will insert the text or image.
• Right-click.
• A menu will appear near your cursor. Select Paste from this menu. The copied text will appear.

Two additional ways to paste the selected text from the computer’s memory. Try them and use the one that is easiest for you.

• The first optional way to paste is.
  • Move to the document or location where you wish to paste the text. Use the blank white box below to paste the text into.
  • Position your cursor where you will insert the text or image.
  • If your program has an “Edit” tool area, click it, then select “Paste” from the drop-down.  Some programs (Google Chrome browser, for example) have a “Tool Icon’ if so, click the tool and choose “Paste”.
• The second option is my favorite because it is so fast
  • Move to the document or location where you wish to paste the text. Use the blank white box below to paste the text into.
  • Position your cursor where you will insert the text or image.
  • Hold down the “Ctrl” key while simultaneously pressing the “V” key.   Ctrl + v 

That Copy & Paste was easy, wasn’t it?

Now let’s learn to cut and paste.

The only difference between copy and cut is that when you cut, the original text is removed and not just copied, but can still be pasted.

• Place your mouse pointer in front of the first word of the text you want to copy; the pointer will turn into an I-like symbol. Hold down your left mouse button and drag over the text you wish to copy. The block of text will change color as you drag. Try it in the box below. 
  • An alternative way is to click in front of the first word, then, while holding the “Shift” key, click after the end of the text you want to select. The selected text will change color.

• After the text is selected or highlighted, position your cursor over the selected section. 
• Right-click.
• A menu will appear near your cursor. Select Cut from this menu. (This cuts the selected text and copies it to the computer’s temporary memory)

Here are two additional ways to cut the selected text to the computer memory. Try them and use the one that is easiest for you.

• The first optional way to copy is.
  • After the text is selected or highlighted, if your program has an “Edit” tool area, click it and in the drop-down select “Cut.” Some programs (Google Chrome browser) have a “Tool Icon’ if so, click the tool and choose “Cut”.
• The second option is my favorite because it is so fast.
  • After the text is selected or highlighted, hold down the “Ctrl” key and press the “X” key.  Ctrl + x 

These options both cut the selected text and copy it to the computer’s temporary memory.

• Move to the document or location where you wish to paste the text. Use the blank white box below to paste the text into.
• Position your cursor where you will insert the text or image.
• Right-click.
• A menu will appear near your cursor. Select Paste from this menu. The copied text will appear. 

 Two additional ways to paste the selected text from the computer’s memory. Try them both and use the one that is easiest for you.

The first optional way to paste is.

• Move to the document or location where you wish to paste the text. Use the blank white box below to paste the text into.
• Position your cursor where you will insert the text or image.
• If your program has an “Edit” tool area, click it, then select “Paste” from the drop-down.  Some programs (Google Chrome browser, for example) have a “Tool Icon’ if so, click the tool and choose “Paste”.

The second option is my favorite because it’s so fast

• Move to the document or location where you wish to paste the text. Use the blank white box below to paste the text into.
• Position your cursor where you will insert the text or image.
• Hold down the “Ctrl” key while simultaneously pressing the “V” key.  Ctrl + v 

Below are the most commonly used keyboard shortcuts