How to Insert Special Symbols Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Inserting special symbols like ©, ™, €, or ° often interrupts your typing flow when you have to open the Symbol dialog box. Word provides built-in keyboard shortcuts for many of these symbols, saving you time and keeping your hands on the keyboard. This article lists the most useful default shortcuts, explains how to assign your own shortcuts to any symbol, and covers how to use AutoCorrect as a faster alternative for frequently used symbols.

How Word Handles Special Symbols and Keyboard Shortcuts

Word stores special symbols in the Symbol dialog, organized by font subset. Many common symbols already have a default keyboard shortcut assigned by Word. For example, typing (c) automatically converts to © via AutoCorrect, but the direct shortcut Ctrl+Alt+C also works and gives you more control.

The underlying mechanism is the Windows character map combined with Word’s own shortcut system. When you press a shortcut, Word inserts the Unicode character at the cursor position. You can use three methods to insert symbols: default built-in shortcuts, Alt codes that work across Windows, and custom shortcuts you assign in Word’s Customize Keyboard dialog.

Before you start, ensure your keyboard has a numeric keypad if you plan to use Alt codes. Laptops without a dedicated numeric keypad can use the Fn key combination, but this is less reliable. For custom shortcuts, you need write access to Normal.dotm, which is the default template where Word stores your customizations.

Default Keyboard Shortcuts for Common Symbols

Word ships with a set of predefined keyboard shortcuts for symbols you use most often. These shortcuts work in any document without any setup.

Symbol	Name	Keyboard Shortcut
©	Copyright	Ctrl+Alt+C
®	Registered trademark	Ctrl+Alt+R
™	Trademark	Ctrl+Alt+T
…	Ellipsis	Ctrl+Alt+Period
—	Em dash	Ctrl+Alt+Minus (numeric keypad)
–	En dash	Ctrl+Minus (numeric keypad)
‘	Single opening quote	Ctrl+`, then ‘ (apostrophe)
’	Single closing quote	Ctrl+’, then ‘ (apostrophe)
“	Double opening quote	Ctrl+`, then Shift+’
”	Double closing quote	Ctrl+’, then Shift+’
§	Section	Ctrl+Alt+S
¶	Pilcrow (paragraph mark)	Ctrl+Shift+8

Note that the em dash and en dash shortcuts require the minus key on the numeric keypad, not the hyphen key next to the zero. If your keyboard lacks a numeric keypad, use the Insert > Symbol > Special Characters method or assign a custom shortcut.

Using Alt Codes to Insert Any Symbol

Alt codes work in Word and in most Windows applications. Hold the Alt key, type a four-digit number on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. The corresponding symbol appears.

1. Turn on Num Lock
   Press the Num Lock key on your keyboard. The Num Lock indicator light should be on. This step is required for the numeric keypad to work.
2. Position the cursor
   Click or tap at the exact spot in your Word document where you want the symbol to appear.
3. Hold Alt and type the code
   Press and hold the Alt key. While holding it, type the four-digit code using the numeric keypad. For example, to insert the euro sign €, type 0128. To insert the degree symbol °, type 0176.
4. Release Alt
   Let go of the Alt key. The symbol appears immediately at the cursor.

Common Alt codes include:

• Alt+0169 — © copyright
• Alt+0174 — ® registered trademark
• Alt+0153 — ™ trademark
• Alt+0128 — € euro
• Alt+0162 — ¢ cent
• Alt+0163 — £ pound
• Alt+0165 — ¥ yen
• Alt+0176 — ° degree
• Alt+0181 — µ micro
• Alt+0182 — ¶ pilcrow
• Alt+0187 — » right-pointing double angle quote

Alt codes work only with the numeric keypad. The number row above the letter keys does not trigger Alt codes. If your laptop lacks a numeric keypad, use the Fn key plus the embedded numeric keys, but test first because behavior varies by manufacturer.

Assigning Custom Keyboard Shortcuts to Any Symbol

If you use a symbol frequently that has no default shortcut, you can assign your own. Word stores custom shortcuts in the Normal.dotm template, so they persist across documents.

1. Open the Symbol dialog
   Go to Insert > Symbol > More Symbols. The Symbol dialog opens.
2. Select the symbol
   Scroll through the list or type the symbol’s name in the Character code box at the bottom. Click the symbol once to select it.
3. Click Shortcut Key
   At the bottom of the dialog, click the Shortcut Key button. The Customize Keyboard dialog appears.
4. Press your new shortcut
   Click in the Press new shortcut key box. Press the key combination you want to use. For example, press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+E. Word shows the combination in the box. If the combination is already assigned to another command, Word displays Currently assigned to: followed by the command name.
5. Assign the shortcut
   Click the Assign button. Word moves the combination to the Current keys list. Click Close to return to the Symbol dialog, then close it.

Test your new shortcut immediately by pressing it in the document. The symbol should appear. If it does not, repeat the steps and verify that you pressed the correct keys.

Using AutoCorrect as a Faster Alternative

AutoCorrect automatically replaces text strings with symbols. Word includes built-in AutoCorrect entries for many symbols, and you can add your own.

1. Open AutoCorrect options
   Go to File > Options > Proofing. Click the AutoCorrect Options button.
2. Add a new entry
   In the Replace box, type a short text string such as (c) or :smile:. In the With box, paste or type the symbol. You can copy the symbol from the Symbol dialog or from a web page.
3. Set formatting (optional)
   If the symbol should be formatted a specific way, click Formatted text and apply the formatting. Otherwise, leave Plain text selected.
4. Click Add then OK
   Word adds the entry. Close all open dialogs.

AutoCorrect triggers as soon as you press Space, Enter, or Tab after typing the replacement string. This method is faster than keyboard shortcuts for symbols you use dozens of times per day.

When Keyboard Shortcuts Do Not Work as Expected

Alt codes insert a character I did not expect

This usually happens when Num Lock is off or when you type the code using the number row instead of the numeric keypad. Turn on Num Lock and use the numeric keypad on the right side of the keyboard. If you are on a laptop, hold Fn while typing the embedded numeric keys (often marked in blue or a different color).

Custom shortcut does not work after assigning it

Word may be using the shortcut for a different command. In the Customize Keyboard dialog, check the Currently assigned to field before clicking Assign. If the shortcut is already in use, choose a different combination. Also ensure you saved the shortcut to Normal.dotm and not to a document-specific template.

AutoCorrect does not replace the text string

AutoCorrect only triggers when the replacement string is typed as a separate word. If you type (c) immediately after another character without a space, AutoCorrect does not act. Add a space before the string or adjust the AutoCorrect settings to Replace text as you type. Also verify that the AutoCorrect entry is not disabled in the Exceptions list.

Built-in Shortcuts vs Alt Codes vs Custom Shortcuts

Feature	Built-in Shortcuts	Alt Codes	Custom Shortcuts
Setup required	None	None	One-time assignment per symbol
Number of symbols available	About 20 common symbols	256+ (Windows character set)	Unlimited
Requires numeric keypad	No	Yes	No
Works in other apps	Word only	All Windows apps	Word only
Ease of remembering	Easy for common symbols	Hard without a reference chart	You choose the key combination
Risk of conflict	Low	None	Possible if you pick an existing shortcut

For daily use, combine all three methods. Use built-in shortcuts for copyright, trademark, and em dash. Use Alt codes for currency symbols and degree marks. Assign custom shortcuts for symbols specific to your field, such as mathematical operators or phonetic characters.

You can now insert special symbols without leaving the keyboard. Start by memorizing the three most common shortcuts: Ctrl+Alt+C for copyright, Ctrl+Alt+T for trademark, and Alt+0176 for degree. Then assign a custom shortcut to the symbol you use most often but that has no default shortcut. For symbols you insert more than five times per day, create an AutoCorrect entry instead. This combination of methods will keep your hands on the keyboard and your typing speed intact.