Windows uses the Control or Ctrl key, MacOS uses the Command or clover or ⌘ key, but otherwise the commands are the same:
| key | function |
|---|---|
| C | C is for copy |
| V | paste (beside the C key) |
| X | cut (other side of C key |
| Z | undo (first key on the row?) |
You can highlight some text and type Modifier-C to copy it into the clipboard. Put your cursor where you want it to go and type Modifier-V to paste. If you want to move, Modifier-X to cut and then Modifier-V to paste.
If you make a mistake, Modifier-Z will undo your last change.
Why "modifier"? Because the Control or Command key "modifies" the key just like the Shift key does. If you want a capital letter, you hold down a Shift key and then type the letter. If you want a symbol above a number, you hold down Shift and press that key. Shift-1 gets you an explanation point and Shift-A gets you a capital letter "A".
The Control key was originally a modifier to send "control characters" to a teletype, printer, or terminal in the old days when computers were room sized. The Windows/PC world still uses the Control key for special signals. So a Control-C is a "copy". The Mac world did things a bit differently. They decided to use a new key, the Command key, with a ⌘ symbol that gave it the nickname of "clover" in the early days. They still use the same letter keys, though, so ⌘-C or Command-C is a copy.
If you look carefully at the mouse menus, you will see keyboard short cuts for many mouse menu selections.
(insert graphic here)
Sometimes there are so many shortcuts you need to use Shift and Control or Shift and Command. Windows PCs also have the Alt modifier keys. Some really famous keystrokes like Control-Alt-Delete use Control and Alt.