You may have turned on Extend Selection mode, which allows you to select text by clicking the mouse or pressing navigation keys. When this mode is active, the letters "EXT" appear on the status bar. To cancel Extend Selection mode, press ESC, and then click anywhere in your document.

By default, the paragraph mark (paragraph mark: The nonprinting symbol that Microsoft Word inserts when you press ENTER to end a paragraph. The paragraph mark stores the formatting you apply to the paragraph.) is selected when you select all the text in a paragraph. This setting helps ensure that the paragraph formatting is copied with the text.

To change this setting:

1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Edit tab.

2. Clear the Use smart paragraph selection check box.

You can only select multiple graphics if they are all inline (inline object: A graphic or other object that is positioned directly in the text of a Microsoft Word document at the insertion point.) or all floating (floating object: A graphic or other object that is inserted in the drawing layer so that you can position it precisely on the page or in front of or behind text or other objects.). To select multiple floating graphics, click a graphic, hold down CTRL, and then click another graphic. To select multiple inline graphics, click to one side of the graphic, and then drag as if you are selecting text. Then, hold down CTRL and drag over another graphic.

If you are trying to copy and paste multiple graphics, you can use the Office Clipboard. As you copy each object (up to 12 objects), it is stored in the Clipboard task pane (task pane: A window within an Office application that provides commonly used commands. Its location and small size allow you to use these commands while still working on your files.), so that you can click to insert it.