How is a "hard return" different from a "soft return"?

A hard return is a fundamental function in word processing that effectively ends one paragraph and starts a new one. When you press the "Enter" or "Return" key, it signals to the program that you are concluding the current block of text, thus generating a hard return. This is particularly important for maintaining clear paragraph structures in a document and helps with organizing and formatting text appropriately for readability.

Conversely, a soft return—often achieved by pressing "Shift + Enter"—merely moves the cursor to the next line without breaking the paragraph. This allows for situations where the writer wants to create line breaks within a single paragraph, such as in poetry or when formatting addresses, without affecting the overall paragraph structure.

The other options do not correctly relate to the definitions and functions of hard and soft returns, as they address unrelated concepts or inaccurately describe the functions of the returns. Recognizing this distinction can significantly enhance keyboarding skills, ensuring more effective document formatting.