Ask 10 Word users how to select text and you’ll get 10 different answers. Word really is that flexible and the selection method you use is up to you. One of the simplest ways to select a line, paragraph, or document is to click the left margin. Simply move the cursor to the left just beyond the left margin — between the left margin and the left edge of the page. When the cursor changes to a white arrow, the position of the cursor and the number of clicks will determine what Word selects when you click:

  • One click: Word selects the line to the right of the pointer (shown below).
  • Two clicks: Word selects the paragraph to the right of the pointer.
  • Three clicks: Word selects the entire document. (Pressing [Ctrl]+A will also select the entire document.)