

Using Extend Mode

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated January 15, 2016)


If you press the F8 key, you enable what Word refers to as extend mode. This is the keyboard method of anchoring the cursor in preparation for making a selection. When you move the cursor using the cursor control keys, the size of the text selection changes and the letters EXT appear on the status bar. You turn off the extend mode by pressing the Esc key.

One of the handy things to do in extend mode is to search for other text. For instance, let's say you wanted to select everything between the current cursor position and the next occurrence of the word "echo." All you need to do is turn on extend mode (press F8) and then search for "echo." Word selects everything between the two points.

When you press the F8 key multiple times, you can select different parts of your text. For instance, when you press F8 once, you simply turn on extend mode. Press it a second time, and the current word is selected. A third time results in the current sentence being selected. A fourth time selects the current paragraph, and a fifth time selects the whole document.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (25) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Using Extend Mode.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt



Using Chart Titles


Discover More

Locking Callouts to a Graph Location


Discover More

Getting Rid of Mail Merge Section Breaks


Discover More


More WordTips (menu)

Understanding the No-Width Characters

Search through the Symbol dialog box, and you may see some special characters whose names seem odd. These are the ...

Discover More

Symbols for Non-Printing Characters

Displaying non-printing characters can help you better understand the formatting and contents of your documents. What do ...

Discover More

Understanding the Clipboard

You can use the Windows Clipboard to move information around in Word. To make the most of the Clipboard, it is helpful to ...

Discover More


View most recent newsletter.



What is seven more than 6?

2017-11-16 13:28:17


using F8 only increases my laptop volume. How to use it for extend mode?

2014-03-17 17:05:46

Jose Latorre

I meant:
Why can't I use F8 and Ctrl+F

within an endnote?

2014-03-17 16:51:41

Jose Latorre

Why can't I use F8 within an endnote?

2014-01-02 08:03:18


Its the "community of users" who answer questions in the comments, for the most part. The newsletter is completely different and has very little to do with the comments.


2014-01-01 23:34:53

Tim Pate

Nicely explained tip on the extend function. Was presented with a talking dialog box enticing me to subscribe.

THen, I noticed this post. Wow, August 2013 the question was asked. And, not even a hint of a reply. Even if a reply was posted that said "buggar off we don't answer question here", that would be better than a complete ignore. Why on earth would one subscribe at all?

2013-08-30 11:49:41

Vicky Kidd

I've inadvertently highlighted my whole document in grey after using the f8 key. I was trying to lower the volume while listening to youtube but instead it's done an extend selection! And now I can't cancel it whatever I do. I've tried the paragraph shading tab, and the no higlights. Nothing works!

This Site


Newest Tips



View the most recent newsletter.