How to Make Keyboard Bullets, Stars, Hearts, French Accents, Copyright Symbols & More with the Alt Key

Do you ever need to type symbols or foreign letters that aren't on your computer keyboard? Like © for Copyright or the Trademark symbol (â„¢) or a real bullet "¢ instead of an asterisk (*)?

Even though I write in English, I've often needed to type a name or word in French, German or Spanish, using letters with accents such as à, é, ü or ñ. But they aren't on my English keyboard. So many times I had to use e' when what I really wanted was the accented é. There are many words in common usage that require these accents: résumé, tête-à-tête, à la carte....For a long time, I never knew the secret to these "missing" keyboard symbols... until one day I was given a list of them. Ah-ha! No more mystery... I just had to unlock the "secret method," which I had never learned before.

Actually, there are three methods you can use:

1. The "Insert" function in Microsoft Word/Publisher/FrontPage

2. The Windows "Character Map" for copying and pasting symbols

3. The "Alt Key" shortcuts for the same symbols.

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

In many Windows programs (including Word, Publisher and FrontPage), there's an easy way to insert symbols for copyright, trademark, cents and French, German and Spanish accents. You never again have to use e', when what you really want is é.

On the top of the screen of your open Word (Publisher/FrontPage) document, you'll see the headings: File, Edit, View, Insert, Format, etc. Click on "Insert" and on the drop-down list, click on "Symbol." A symbol box will pop up. Click on the symbol you want to insert into your text, then click on the insert button and close the box.

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

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

Choose the font you wish to use from the drop-down menu at the top. Place your curser where you'd like to insert the symbol, click on the symbol you wish to insert, click on the Select Button, then the Copy Button and then paste the symbol onto your page (using Edit, Paste or the "Control v" shortcut). You'll also see the Alt Key shortcut at the bottom of the Character Map, for future reference.

(3) How to Make Keyboard Symbols with the "Alt" Key and Numeric Keypad:

Another way is to use the "Alt" key and numbers - making sure to use your numeric keypad, not the numbers on the top of the keyboard. NumLock needs to be ON.

Using the numeric keypad, hold down the Alt key, hit the Zero key and then three additional numbers in succession. For example for © Copyright, hold down Alt, press the number 0, then press the numbers 1, 6, 9. Then you can let up the Alt key.

The basic symbols below will work with most text fonts.

Copyright (©) is Alt, 0, 1, 6, 9

Trademark (â„¢) is Alt, 0, 1, 5, 3

Registered (®) is Alt, 0, 1, 7, 4

Bullet ("¢) is Alt, 0, 1, 4, 9

Ellipsis (...) is Alt, 0, 1, 3, 3

"N" Dash (-) is Alt, 0, 1, 5, 0

"M" Dash ("”) is Alt, 0, 1, 5, 1

Pound (£) is Alt 0, 1, 6, 3

Cents (¢) is Alt, 0, 1, 6, 2

One-half (½) is Alt, 0, 1, 8, 9

French accent (à) is Alt, 0, 2, 2, 4

French accent (ç) is Alt, 0, 2, 3, 1

French accent (è) is Alt, 0, 2, 3, 2

French accent (é) is Alt, 0, 2, 3, 3

French accent (ê) is Alt, 0, 2, 3, 4

German accent (ü) is Alt, 0, 2, 5, 2

Spanish accent (ñ) is Alt, 0, 2, 4, 1

Making Graphics with Text Fonts:

In print publications such as flyers, it's helpful to know how to make check boxes, checkmarks or scissors (for coupon cutting). You get these symbols with Wingding (comes with Word) and Dingbat fonts that let you add even more pizzazz to your documents with hearts, stars, arrows, fancy bullets, spacers and more.

A few Dingbat-style symbols come with your text fonts!
(These work with Times New Roman and Arial, but not web-style fonts such as Verdana)

Smiley face☺ is Alt, 1

Heart ♥ is Alt, 3

Diamond ♦ is Alt, 4

Club ♣ is Alt, 5

Spade â™  is Alt, 6

Bullet "¢ is Alt, 7

Bullet â—˜ is Alt, 8

Music Notes ♫ is Alt, 1, 4

Sun ☼ is Alt, 1, 5

(Heart border = Alt, 3 repeated, using Times New Roman 12 point font.)
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Graphic Text Symbols

For graphic text symbols, change your font to Wingdings (comes with Microsoft Word and Publisher) or Zapf Dingbats (for hearts). You can resize these symbols the same way you'd resize any text.

ITC Zapf Dingbats (including hearts):
You won't be able to see the graphics below without the Dingbats font installed (hearts, arrows, star, bullet, etc.).

Either use the "Insert" function as instructed above, or the following sampling of keyboard shortcuts (you'll find more at Insert, Symbol):

Heart symbol (¤) is Alt 0, 1, 6, 4

Heart symbol (ª) is Alt 0, 1, 7, 0

Divider heart symbol ( ¦ ) is Alt, 0, 1, 6, 6

Divider heart symbol (§) is Alt, 0, 1, 6, 7

Scissors symbol ( " ) is Alt, 0, 3, 4 (for coupon cutting)

Checkmark symbol ( 4 ) is Alt, 0, 5, 2

X Checkmark Symbol ( 8 ) is Alt, 0, 0, 5, 6

Star Symbol ( H ) is Alt, 0, 7, 2

Check Box Symbol ( o ) is Alt, 0, 1, 1, 1

Arrow Symbol ( Ü ) is Alt, 0, 2, 2, 0

Another Cool Bullet ( u ) is Alt, 0, 1, 1, 7

¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦
(Alt, 0, 1, 6, 6 - Dingbat heart border - it looks great, but you can only see it if you have Dingbats installed on your computer.)

© Copyright 2006-2008 Barbara Casey

To get your own downloadable, printable list
of 300 Alt Key symbols for just 99¢,
please click here.

DID YOU LIKE THIS DESIGN POST? IF SO, PLEASE HELP US BY ADDING US AS ONE OF YOUR TECHNORATI FAVORITES AND BY ADDING OUR ARTICLES TO YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL BOOKMARKING SITES (BELOW)