The RWS Trados Studio shortcuts worth learning first are Ctrl+Enter (confirm and move to the next unconfirmed segment), Ctrl+Alt+Enter (confirm and move to the next segment), Ctrl+Insert (copy source to target), Ctrl+T (apply the selected translation result) and Ctrl+Shift+F2 (quick add new term). The faster you move through the editor, the more attention is left for choosing the right word and the right tone.
RWS Trados Studio is one of the CAT tools our linguists work in. The default keyboard shortcuts below are the ones that genuinely change daily productivity. They are the standard bindings in recent versions of Studio; if your copy has been customized, check File > Options > Keyboard Shortcuts. The 15 sections below cover 20 shortcuts, because some sections add a close relative of the main one.
The Essential Five (If You Learn Nothing Else)
These five shortcuts form the backbone of efficient Trados Studio operation. If you're currently using your mouse to perform any of these actions, you're losing time every single day.
1. Ctrl+Enter: Confirm and Move to Next Unconfirmed Segment
The single most-used shortcut in any translator's workflow. Confirm the current segment and jump to the next segment that still needs work, skipping anything already confirmed.
2. Ctrl+Alt+Enter: Confirm and Move to Next Segment
The same confirmation, but the cursor moves to the very next segment whether it is confirmed or not. Useful in review, when you want to walk through every segment in order.
3. Ctrl+Insert: Copy Source to Target
When a segment doesn't need translation (proper nouns, code strings, numbers), copy the source directly. Particularly useful for Turkish localization, where brand names and technical identifiers usually stay exactly as they are in the source. Alt+Shift+Insert copies the source of every segment in the file into the target column.
4. Ctrl+T: Apply the Selected Translation Result
When the translation memory offers a match, insert it into the target with Ctrl+T. Ctrl+1 to Ctrl+9 insert a specific result from the Translation Results window, so you can pick the second or third match without reaching for the mouse.
5. Ctrl+Shift+F2: Quick Add New Term
Spotted a term that should be in your glossary? Select the source and target terms and add them to the termbase without leaving the editor. Ctrl+F2 opens the full Add New Term form when you want to fill in definitions and other fields. This seemingly small habit compounds over time: after a month of consistent term additions, your termbase becomes a comprehensive resource.
Navigation and Search
6. Ctrl+G: Go To
For long documents, jumping directly to a specific segment number saves significant scrolling time.
7. Ctrl+F: Find
The standard find function within the document. Use it to check terminology consistency across your file.
8. Ctrl+H: Find and Replace
Bulk-update a term throughout your document. When the client changes their preferred terminology mid-project (it happens more than you'd think), this is your rescue tool.
9. F3: Concordance Search
Select a word or phrase and search your translation memories for every segment that contains it. The fastest way to check how a term was handled in earlier work.
Tags, Placeables and Formatting
10. Ctrl+Comma: QuickPlace
Tags are the bane of translator efficiency. QuickPlace lists the tags, numbers, dates and other placeables from the source segment so you can insert them in the target without retyping or copying them by hand.
11. Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I and Ctrl+U: Bold, Italic and Underline
Apply formatting directly without touching the ribbon.
Quality Assurance
12. F7: Check Spelling
Run the spell checker. Run it habitually.
13. F8: Verify
Trigger the full verification (QA) module: tag checks, terminology checks, number checks and the rest of your QA settings. Do this regularly during translation, not just at the end. For how verification fits into a full review process, see our translation quality assurance guide.
Segment Control
14. Ctrl+L: Toggle Lock
Lock a confirmed segment to prevent accidental edits, or unlock it again. Particularly useful in review workflows and for segments that must not be changed.
15. Ctrl+S: Save
Obvious, but worth building into your rhythm. Save after every batch of segments rather than relying on autosave alone.
Building Muscle Memory
Knowing shortcuts intellectually and using them instinctively are very different things. Our recommendation for building muscle memory:
Week 1: Force yourself to use only the Essential Five. Put a sticky note on your monitor. Every time you reach for the mouse for one of these actions, stop and use the shortcut instead.
Week 2: Add the navigation and search shortcuts. Your mouse usage should drop noticeably.
Week 3: Incorporate the tag, formatting and QA shortcuts.
Week 4: Practice segment locking and the full set on a non-critical project.
By the end of the month, your hands will move automatically. Your translation speed won't just increase: your fatigue will decrease because you're making fewer context-switching decisions throughout the day.
A Note on Customization
RWS Trados Studio allows full shortcut customization under File > Options > Keyboard Shortcuts. If any of the default bindings feel unnatural, change them. The best shortcut is the one your fingers find without thinking.
If you are a native linguist in one of our languages and already work in Trados Studio, see how to join our Freelance Network.