Ctrl+C (Mac: Cmd+C) copies the selection, and a moving dashed border shows what's on the clipboard. Ctrl+V pastes it at the selected cell. Ctrl+X cuts instead: the cells move when you paste.
Copying a formula adjusts its references, just like the fill handle. Copy =B2*C2 one row down and it becomes =B3*C3. Cut is different: a moved formula keeps pointing at the same cells.
Two habits save time:
- Select a whole range before you paste, and Excel pastes into every cell of it. A copied block of two cells pasted into six repeats three times.
- After a copy, pressing Enter pastes once and clears the clipboard. Esc clears it without pasting.