News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

May 30, 2006

tips

It’s true: bold and italicize…at the same time!

Posted May. 30, ’06, 8:48 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Tips

Mac modifier keysMac OS X Hints underwent a bit of a transformation over the weekend as it transferred to a new version of its underlying software, Geeklog. The site has never looked better, and although Rob “Hint is my middle name” Griffiths is still working out the new site’s kinks, they are open for business.

Take this hint, for example, from user bobme:

I found this out while wanting to bold and underline a word in TextEdit. I held down the Command key, and then simultaneously hit the B and the U keys. Sure enough, bold AND underline. I checked and it works in Mail — and even in Word! Of course I had to push the limits. Bold, Underline, Italic? No problem. Try that on Windows!
Huh. I have to admit, as a Mac user of fifteen years I had no idea that this was possible. Granted, I don’t often want to bold, italicize and underline a word at the same time, but it’s somehow gratifying to know that if I did want to, I could. Yet another piece of fodder to try for my pro-Mac evangelizing. I’ll put this one upfront, right next to “it’s so pretty.”

Update: A number of people, both here and on Mac OS X Hints, have pointed out that this works on Windows too. Spoilsports. As for those who complain that this is nothing new, well, I’ll point out it’s plenty new to those who didn’t know about it. Me, for example. Next time, I’ll come up with something truly amazing for you jaded types.


7 Comments

wackybit said:

This is so obvious!!! I use command (letter) every time I want to bold, italicize, or underline something.......and I press all the keys for them to all work at once.....
it's not hint!

May 30, 2006 9:13 AM
Richard Savage said:

Hmm... I have used the CTRL-B CTRL-U CTRL-I commands in Windows for a long time, and never had a problem substituting the Command key for the CTRL key on my Mac.

How is this new info anywhere? And Windows does it just fine...

May 30, 2006 9:35 AM
Scott McNulty said:

Not to mention the fact that it also works on Windows. ;)

May 30, 2006 11:49 AM
mandaris said:

wow..... I think the posting of the clip here was just to be funny....

C'mon, it's not that serious..... and if you didn't know about it.... well, now you do...

May 30, 2006 1:18 PM
Michael Long said:

With a computer measuring events in microseconds, I suspect that the word "simultaneously" might not mean what you think it means.

It's highly likely that what you're considering to be "simulaneous" key strokes are in fact registered as distinct events and as far as the computer is concerned, you just pressed cmd-B, cmd-I very quickly... for a human.

May 30, 2006 5:22 PM
Dan said:

Count me among the 15-year Mac veterans who had no idea this existed.

Good find.

May 30, 2006 6:17 PM
Liam Parkinson said:

I do this on a windows machine using CTRL and CMD on a mac, not a good find at all, i hate windows but you cant shoot them down over something that both systems can do.......

May 31, 2006 9:59 AM

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