Tick Symbol in Word: How to add it

Are you new to the ‘tick symbol’ feature in Microsoft Word, feeling uncertain about how to use it for the first time? Alternatively, if you’re already familiar with it and interested in keyboard shortcuts, you can explore further below.

What’s a tick symbol?

The tick symbol, often represented as a checkmark (√) or a simple “tick,” is commonly used in Microsoft Word. Some of its primary uses include marking completed tasks, proofreading and editing, noting completed steps, grading and assessment, approval, and many more.

Inserting a Tick Symbol in Microsoft Word

A. Using the Insert Symbol Option

You need to open your Microsoft Word and follow the steps below.

1. Click where you want to insert the tick symbol.
2. Click the “Insert” Tab

3. Select “Symbol”  which can be found on the upper right portion of the toolbar.

4. Click “More Symbols”.

5. Change the font to ‘Wingdings’.
6. Scroll up or down to choose the tick symbol you need, then click ‘Insert’.

B. Using Keyboard Shortcuts

1. Alt Code Method for Windows

First, change your font to ‘Wingdings,’ then hold down the ‘Alt’ key while typing the corresponding numbers shown below, depending on the symbol you want to achieve.

Alt + 0252

Alt + 0254

2. Shift Code Method for Windows

Change the font to ‘Wingdings 2’ before performing the shortcuts indicated below.

Shift + P

Shift + R

Other fonts that use the tick symbol

Aside from ‘Wingdings’ and ‘Wingdings 2’, you also have the option to use the following fonts in creating a tick symbol:

Marlett: Marlett is a font that contains various symbols and icons, including the tick symbol, which you can find by typing “a.”

Segoe UI Symbol: This font is part of the Segoe UI font family. You can find the tick symbol by typing “a.”

Customising the Keyboard Shortcut

You can create a custom keyboard shortcut for easier recall. Follow the same steps as inserting a tick symbol in Microsoft Word, but, at the last step, click the ‘Shortcut Key’ button.

Then ‘Press new shortcut key’ on the field provided and click the ‘Assign’ button.

Troubleshooting

If the tick symbol is not displaying properly:

• Ensure that you are using a font that supports the tick symbol and that it is installed on your system. Using an unsupported font will not display the desired tick symbol.
• Occasionally, fonts can become corrupted. If this happens, reinstall the font or use a different version to resolve the issue.

If you’re experiencing compatibility issues:

• Check your Word version, as font and symbol support may vary when sharing documents between Windows and Mac Word versions or collaborating online with cloud-based Word.

I hope this article helps in addressing your issues with tick symbols. If you need help to ensure that your document is free of errors, consider hiring a professional proofreader.