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2.2: Insert versus Overtype

  • Page ID
    14565
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    Learning Objectives

    • An explanation of how these two modes of entry effect what you see when typing. How to toggle between the two modes.

    Insert

    Insert means that you add text to the current text without replacing any single letter. For example, the original sentence is “John is a good person”; if you insert “very” between “a” and “good”, the sentence will be “John is a very good person”.

    To insert a text:

    Step 1 - Move the insertion point to the place you want to insert the text.

    Step 2 - Type the text you want.

    Overtype

    Overtype means that you replace the current text with another text using the ‘Insert’ button on the keyboard. For example, the original sentence is “John is a very good person” and you want to replace “good” with “nice”. If you put the insertion point before “good” and type “nice”, the sentence will be “John is a very nice person” not “John is a very nice good person”.

    To overtype a text:

    Step 1 - Be sure to activate the ‘Overtype option’. To do that , follow the instructions:

    graphics2.2.1.jpg

    Step 2 - To overtype the text, move the insertion point to the place you want to replace the text (before the text); click the insert button (toggles from insert mode to overtype mode).

    graphics2.2.2.jpg

    Step 3 - Type the new text that will overtype the existing text. Hit the insert key to toggle off the overtype and return to the insert mode.


    This page titled 2.2: Insert versus Overtype is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Kenneth Leroy Busbee (OpenStax CNX) .

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