Handy Hotkeys: Shift+Alt+Right or Left Arrow

This hotkey sequence works in any fully Windows compliant application. It certainly works in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft OneNote because I use it all the time.

Shift+Alt+RightArrow does a ‘promote’ and Shift+Alt+LeftArrow does a ‘demote’.

Promoting and demoting have slight different effects depending when they are used. I am going to try and keep this really brief—which will be a challenge.

Used with headings

Used in Word, OneNote, or Outlook with defined heading styles if Shift+Alt+RightArrow is pressed then the next lower level heading style will be applied. So if you have the cursor anywhere in a Heading 2 line and want it to be a Heading 3 then you just use Shift+Alt+RightArrow. This saves bringing down the style list, navigating to find Heading 3, and then selecting it.

Shift+Alt+LeftArrow can be used to promote headings, going back up the Heading styles.

Used with bullets

Used in Word, OneNote, or Outlook Shift+Alt+RightArrow can be used to demote bullet levels, and Shift+Alt+LeftArrow will promote bullet levels.

So if you have a level 1 bullet you want to be a level 2 bullet just put the cursor anywhere in it and do Shift+Alt+RightArrow.

That’s about it.