Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Inserting a Special Symbol.

Inserting a Special Symbol

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated February 11, 2017)

In typography there are many special symbols defined in fonts. An example of special symbols would be the bullets used at the front of bulleted lists. Word allows you to quickly and easily insert a special symbol into your document. To do so, follow these instructions:

  1. Position the insertion point where you want the special symbol inserted.
  2. Choose Symbol from the Insert menu. Word displays the Symbol dialog box.
  3. Make sure the Symbols tab is selected. (It should be selected by default when you first call up the dialog box.) (See Figure 1.)

    4. Figure 1. The Symbols tab of the Symbol dialog box.

  4. Since the symbols shown are nothing more than alternate typefaces, you can pick a different symbol typeface by changing the Font box.
  5. Select a symbol from among those displayed.
  6. Click on Insert.
  7. Repeat steps 4 through 6 to insert other symbols, if desired.
  8. Click on OK to close the dialog box.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1120) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Inserting a Special Symbol.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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