How to use ALT-C Columnar copy and CTRL-arrow keys

I use the Brief keymap built into Visual Studio (yes, that's a very old keymap so I guess I am too).

I use the Brief columnar copy funcitonality all the time. I hit ALT-C and I can copy a block of text. While hi-lighting the block of text, if I hit CTRL arrow to advance the hi-light by a word instead of single space, I lose the hi-light and the copy is messed up.

Has anyone else seen this problem?

Is there a way to work around this problem without abandoning the Brief keymap?

Thanks,
Jer