When you select a block of text, Word assumes a lot. If you drag the mouse down, it automatically selects all of the text to the right of the cursor. Similarly, if you drag the mouse up, Word selects all the text to the left of the cursor. What if you want to select text moving up or down without selecting text to the right or left or the cursor? Fortunately, you can force Word to select a vertical block of text–ignoring the text to the right or the left–if you know the right keystroke.
To customize the selection area, position the cursor at the beginning (or end) of the block you want to select. Then, hold down the [Alt] key and drag your mouse up or down and right or left to select just the block you want—without Word’s interfering assumptions.
For a quick glimpse of what you can do, just click anywhere in the middle of some text, hold down the [Alt] key, and make a small circle with your mouse. By using the [Alt] key while dragging your mouse, you can customize the shape and size of the selected block of text—it’s up to you, not Word!