The underline shortcut key is Ctrl + U and the bold shortcut key is Ctrl + B. Select text and press them to add the style, or press once before typing to switch it on. Press again to switch it off. Ctrl + I does the same for italics.
They work in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, most email and chat editors, and many web forms. Word adds extra underline styles, such as double underline with Ctrl + Shift + D.
Quick facts
Underline
Ctrl + UBold
Ctrl + BItalic
Ctrl + IDouble underline (Word)
Ctrl + Shift + DUnderline words only (Word)
Ctrl + Shift + WMac
Command + B, Command + U
Underline shortcut key and bold shortcut key table
| Style | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | Ctrl + B | Command + B |
| Underline | Ctrl + U | Command + U |
| Italic | Ctrl + I | Command + I |
| Double underline (Word) | Ctrl + Shift + D | Command + Shift + D |
| Underline words, not spaces (Word) | Ctrl + Shift + W | Command + Shift + W |
| Remove character formatting (Word) | Ctrl + Space | Control + Space |
How to make text bold or underlined
- Select the words, for example by double clicking a word or using Shift with the arrow keys.
- Press Ctrl + B for bold or Ctrl + U for underline. You can press both.
- Click elsewhere to see the result. Press the same keys on the selection again to remove the style.
Pressing the keys with nothing selected turns the style on for whatever you type next, until you press them again.
Bold and underline in Excel
Excel uses the same Ctrl + B, Ctrl + U and Ctrl + I, and also accepts Ctrl + 2, Ctrl + 4 and Ctrl + 3 for bold, underline and italic. Double underline, often used under totals in accounts, is set in Format Cells: press Ctrl + 1, go to the Font tab and choose Double or Double Accounting under Underline.
Bold text in chats and email
Outlook and most web mail editors accept Ctrl + B and Ctrl + U. Plain text boxes, such as some web forms, ignore them because they cannot show styles. Many chat apps use symbols instead: wrapping a word in asterisks makes it bold in several of them. The strike through shortcut key covers crossed out text.
When bold or underline does not work
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + B opens bookmarks | You are in a browser area, not a text editor |
| Style turns on for everything typed | Press the keys again to switch it off |
| Ctrl + U shows page source | That is the browser's key outside text fields |
| Nothing happens in a form | The box accepts plain text only |
Bold and underline in exam answers and letters
In formal letters and applications, bold is normally used for the subject line and underline sparingly, if at all. Typing exams often ask candidates to reproduce bold and underline exactly as in the given passage, so practise switching them on before a word and off after it without stopping. Keep one hand near Ctrl so the change takes a fraction of a second.
More formatting keys
Changing size is covered in font size shortcut, raised text in superscript, and copying a look to other text in format painter shortcut key.
Frequently asked questions
What is the underline shortcut key?
What is the bold shortcut key?
What is the double underline shortcut key in Word?
How do I remove bold or underline?
Select the text and press the same keys again.
Do these work in Excel?
Yes, plus Ctrl + 2, Ctrl + 4 and Ctrl + 3 as alternatives.