What shortcut can be used to apply bold formatting to selected text in Word?

The shortcut that can be used to apply bold formatting to selected text in Word is Ctrl + B. This keyboard combination is a widely recognized command across various word processing software for toggling bold formatting on and off. When you select any text and press Ctrl + B, the font weight of that text changes to bold, making it stand out from the rest of the text.

Using shortcuts like this helps increase productivity, allowing users to format their documents quickly without needing to navigate through menus. The other keyboard combinations listed do not serve this specific function. For instance, Ctrl + I is used for italic formatting, while Shift + B and Alt + B do not correspond to any standard text formatting action in Word.