The center align shortcut key in Word, PowerPoint and Outlook is Ctrl + E. Click in a paragraph, or select several, and press it; the lines move to the middle of the page. Ctrl + L returns them to the left.
Ctrl + R aligns right and Ctrl + J justifies, stretching lines so both edges are straight. These four work on whole paragraphs, so you do not need to select every word.
Quick facts
Center
Ctrl + ELeft
Ctrl + LRight
Ctrl + RJustify
Ctrl + JMac center
Command + EExcel center
Alt, then H, then A, then C
Center align shortcut key and the other three
| Alignment | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Center | Ctrl + E | Command + E |
| Left | Ctrl + L | Command + L |
| Right | Ctrl + R | Command + R |
| Justify | Ctrl + J | Command + J |
The letters are easy to remember: E for cEnter, L for Left, R for Right and J for Justify. They apply to the paragraph the cursor is in, even if nothing is selected.
Justify shortcut key and when to use it
Ctrl + J gives a printed book look, with straight left and right edges. It suits formal letters, reports and newspaper style columns. In narrow columns it can leave wide gaps between words; turning on hyphenation under Layout, Hyphenation fixes that by splitting long words at line ends. For everyday emails and web pages, left alignment is easier to read. Right alignment has its own uses: dates and addresses at the top right of a letter, page numbers in a header, and text in languages written right to left. A common office layout puts the company name centered, the date right aligned on the next line, and the letter body justified below.
Centre alignment shortcut key in other programs
| Program | Center key | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Word | Ctrl + E | All four keys |
| PowerPoint | Ctrl + E | Works on text inside a box |
| Outlook | Ctrl + E | In the message body |
| WordPad | Ctrl + E | All four keys |
| Excel | Alt, then H, then A, then C | Ctrl + E runs Flash Fill instead |
| Browsers | None | Ctrl + R reloads the page |
Excel alignment is a separate topic because its keys differ; see Excel alignment shortcut. Online document editors usually add Shift to the same letters, so center becomes Ctrl + Shift + E.
Center a page vertically
Ctrl + E only moves text left and right. To place a title in the middle of a cover page, open Layout, then the Page Setup dialog launcher, choose the Layout tab and set Vertical alignment to Center for this section. For tables, select the table and use the Layout tab's alignment buttons, or right click, Table Properties, and choose Center. Table cells also accept Ctrl + E for the text inside them. Certificates, invitations and cover pages usually combine both: vertical centering for the page, and Ctrl + E for each line of text, so the design stays balanced however many lines it has.
When alignment does not change
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Text still looks off center | Spaces or tabs before the text; delete them |
| Only one line moved | The lines are separate paragraphs; select them all |
| Ctrl + E filled data in Excel | Press Ctrl + Z and use Alt, H, A, C |
| Picture does not center | Set its wrapping to In line with text, then press Ctrl + E |
Frequently asked questions
What is the center align shortcut key?
What is the justify shortcut key?
What is the left alignment shortcut key?
What is the right alignment shortcut?
Why does Ctrl + E not center in Excel?
Excel uses Ctrl + E for Flash Fill. Use Alt, H, A, C.