diff --git a/nw/constants/enum.py b/nw/constants/enum.py
index 539c0ae0..74d0e9f4 100644
--- a/nw/constants/enum.py
+++ b/nw/constants/enum.py
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ class nwDocAction(Enum):
     BLOCK_TXT = 23
     REPL_SNG  = 24
     REPL_DBL  = 25
+    DEL_WORD  = 26
 
 # END Enum nwDocAction
 
diff --git a/nw/gui/doceditor.py b/nw/gui/doceditor.py
index abafc6fb..b70e113f 100644
--- a/nw/gui/doceditor.py
+++ b/nw/gui/doceditor.py
@@ -37,11 +37,11 @@ from time import time
 
 from PyQt5.QtCore import (
     Qt, QSize, QTimer, pyqtSlot, pyqtSignal, QRegExp, QRegularExpression,
-    QPointF, QObject, QRunnable, QPropertyAnimation
+    QPointF, QObject, QRunnable, QPropertyAnimation, QEvent
 )
 from PyQt5.QtGui import (
     QTextCursor, QTextOption, QKeySequence, QFont, QColor, QPalette,
-    QTextDocument, QCursor, QPixmap
+    QTextDocument, QCursor, QPixmap, QKeyEvent
 )
 from PyQt5.QtWidgets import (
     qApp, QTextEdit, QAction, QMenu, QShortcut, QMessageBox, QWidget, QLabel,
@@ -719,6 +719,8 @@ class GuiDocEditor(QTextEdit):
             self._replaceQuotes("'", self.typSQOpen, self.typSQClose)
         elif theAction == nwDocAction.REPL_DBL:
             self._replaceQuotes("\"", self.typDQOpen, self.typDQClose)
+        elif theAction == nwDocAction.DEL_WORD:
+            self.keyPressEvent(QKeyEvent(QEvent.KeyPress, Qt.Key_Delete, Qt.ControlModifier))
         else:
             logger.debug("Unknown or unsupported document action %s" % str(theAction))
             self._allowAutoReplace(True)
@@ -843,6 +845,7 @@ class GuiDocEditor(QTextEdit):
           * The undo/redo/select all sequences bypasses the docAction
             pathway from the menu, so we redirect them back from here.
         """
+        print(keyEvent.type())
         self.lastActive = time()
         isReturn  = keyEvent.key() == Qt.Key_Return
         isReturn |= keyEvent.key() == Qt.Key_Enter
diff --git a/nw/gui/mainmenu.py b/nw/gui/mainmenu.py
index e91679ef..c44b2214 100644
--- a/nw/gui/mainmenu.py
+++ b/nw/gui/mainmenu.py
@@ -172,6 +172,16 @@ class GuiMainMenu(QMenuBar):
         QDesktopServices.openUrl(QUrl(theUrl))
         return True
 
+    def _handleCtrlDel(self):
+        """Direct the Ctrl+Del key press to the correct widget.
+        """
+        if self.theParent.treeView.hasFocus():
+            self.theParent.treeView.deleteItem(None)
+        elif self.theParent.docEditor.hasFocus():
+            self.theParent.docEditor.docAction(nwDocAction.DEL_WORD)
+
+        return
+
     ##
     #  Menu Builders
     ##
@@ -270,7 +280,7 @@ class GuiMainMenu(QMenuBar):
         self.aDeleteItem = QAction("Delete Item", self)
         self.aDeleteItem.setStatusTip("Delete selected project item")
         self.aDeleteItem.setShortcut("Ctrl+Del")
-        self.aDeleteItem.triggered.connect(lambda: self.theParent.treeView.deleteItem(None))
+        self.aDeleteItem.triggered.connect(self._handleCtrlDel)
         self.projMenu.addAction(self.aDeleteItem)
 
         # Project > Move Up