Making keyboard symbols using "Alt" key

If you need to make symbols and letters are not on your computer keyboard - such as © for Copyright or the Trademark, cents, Euro, or one-half symbols - or a real bullet instead of an asterisk - here a handy tutorial to bookmark.

See French, German and Spanish accents, including à, é, U and Ñ.

If you are a writer, you can make real "en" and "em" dashes instead - a double hyphen.


For real cool symbols (stars, fancy bullets, Astrological glyphs, etc.), you must check the Alt Key shortcut for Wingdings and Dingbats (below).

In this tutorial, you'll need to learn how to make symbols and English letters with: (1) the Insert function in Microsoft Word and Publisher, (2) The Character Map for copying and pasting symbols in your document, and (3) Alt Key shortcut for the same symbol.

You'll also find free list below to dozens of alt key symbols, including copyright, trademark, registered, French, German and Spanish accents, bullets and more - including shortcuts for common Wingdings and Dingbats.

(1) How to Use the "Insert" Function:

Microsoft Word (and Publisher / FrontPage), there is an easy way to insert symbols for copyright, trademark, cents and French, Spanish and German accents. Again not to use e ', when what you really want is é.

Above the screen of your open Word 2003 document, you'll see the headings: File, Edit, View, Insert, Format, etc. Click the "Insert" and the drop-down list, click on "Music. "A symbol box will pop up. Click the symbol you want to enter your text, then click the enter button and close the case.

In Word 2007, click the Insert tab, then click the icon symbol (the far right). A little box pops up that shows some symbols and the words "More symbols." If you click on "additional symbols," a big box pops up in all kinds of symbols, depending on what font you're working in

(2) How to Use "Character Map" in Windows:

Another way is to use "Character Map" to copy and paste the required symbols. Windows (XP), you'll see the Character Map by clicking the Windows Start Menu, then All Programs, then Accessories, System Tools and Character Map. The Character Map box pops up.

Select the font you wish to use from the drop-down menu above. Place your cursor where you want to enter the symbol, click the symbol you want to enter, click the Select Button, then Button Copy and paste the symbol into your page (using Edit , or Paste "Control V" shortcut). You'll also find shortcuts Alt key under the Character Map, for future reference.

(3) How to Create a keyboard symbol "Alt" Key and numeric keypad:

Another way is to use "Alt" key and numbers - making sure to use your number keypad, not the numbers above the keyboard. NumLock needs to be pressed

With the number keypad, hold down the Alt key and press the number (in sequence) shown below for the symbol you want to use. Copyright © for example, hold down Alt, press the number 0, then press the number 1, 6, 9. Then you can let up the Alt key.