Explain copy and paste confusion

Open the folder you want to paste into. Cmd+X does not cut (in the finder.)

Cut in OS X deliberately works in a different manner. That is, it's somewhat safer to do the move on the second keystroke rather than the first.

Press Command+C to copy as normal. For the destination, press Command+Option+V to make it a "cut".

Csound hs answered your question. But I find this easier via drag & drop. To use copy hold the option key while dragging to the new folder and to move it, hold Command key.

Then to paste into another folder, I cannot simply select the folder on the Desktop and paste. I must actually OPEN the folder and then PASTE.

Correct. I've tested that here and that is the behavior in OS X. You must open the folder you want to paste items into and click anywhere inside that folder before pressing Command+Option+V.

Although you are correct, I do not think that is consistent.

Depends on who you're talking to. Windows may work that way, but this isn't Windows. Each OS has their own methods of doing the same thing, and this is the method Apple's engineers went with. You can submit feedback to Apple and ask for improvements and/or changes to OS X's behavior. They'll read it, but don't expect or assume things will change.

What is really confusing me is that I think I have the folder selected on the Desktop and that is where I think the action should occur - in the selected folder, not the Desktop. But it pastes to the Desktop, not the selected folder.

I agree. With the target folder highlighted, I can't see a reason why I have to open it first. But it is what it is for the time being. I can drag and drop the source folder onto that closed target folder to copy or move an item, but can't use keyboard commands to do the same thing.

I very, very rarely copy or move anything with keyboard commands. I just don't see where it saves any time, or is "easier". You already have your hand on the mouse and you're clicking the item(s) to copy/move, so why even take your hand off the mouse? Just drag it to the destination and hold down the appropriate modifier key with your left hand to make it a copy or move.

If I want to simply MOVE the file by drag and drop, I can just drag it, can't I? I don't have to press any (you said COMMAND) modifier key. Only if I want to do a COPY would I have to use (you said OPTION) a modifier key.

It all depends on where you're copying or moving a file to. In this respect, Windows is exactly the same when using the mouse. If the items are on the same partition, they will always move without holding any keys. If they're going to a different partition, it will always be a copy without holding any keys.

You use the modifier keys when you want to force the opposite behavior.

If I want items on the same partition to copy rather than move (the default), then I would hold down the Option key. A green + sign will appear as you drag to show it will be a copy.

If I want the items to move to a different partition rather than copy (the default), I would hold down the Command key. The green + sign will then disappear as the default copy action will then become a move.

Again, what Windows does is irrelevant. This is OS X. You will only succeed in driving yourself nuts trying to force the Mac OS to do something it isn't coded to do. And no, what you're used to doing doesn't automatically make Windows better. It's just what you're used to. A long time Mac user could make the same argument that Windows is doing it wrong.

Let me clear up the confustion, I'm referring to Finder shortcuts found in this support article

Mac keyboard shortcuts - Apple Support

These are operations you are doing in Finder, not inside documents, aren't they? It is kind of confusing... first I've thought about it. Been working this way for so long it's second nature.

You're welcome. 🙂

As with any new OS, it will feel more natural as you get used to it. Personally, I've used Windows and the Mac both for a long time. Sometimes I press the wrong keys when I'm in the opposite OS, but not too often. 😀