How to Insert a Check Mark into Microsoft Word

Using check marks in your Microsoft Word documents can help make them more organized, easier to follow, and visually appealing. However, many Word users don’t know how to insert these simple yet useful symbols.

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn multiple methods for adding check marks to Word documents on both Windows and Mac.

Why Use Check Marks in Word Documents

Before jumping into the how-to steps, let’s look at some of the benefits of using check marks in Word:

• Organize information: Check marks allow you to create clear “to-do” style lists that are easy to scan and track progress on. They visually break up information.
• Emphasize completed items: The check mark symbol denotes “done” or “yes, correct” in a way that draws the reader’s attention.
• Enhance professional look: Check marks give documents a clean, polished appearance. They look more put-together than plain bulleted lists.
• Improve comprehension: Check marks help readers grasp information more efficiently by streamlining content into digestible components.

Method 1: Insert Check Mark Symbol

The fastest way to add a basic check mark to Word is by using the Symbol menu:

1. Place cursor where you want the symbol inserted
2. Go to Insert tab > Symbols section > Symbol
3. Select More Symbols
4. Change font to Wingdings
5. Find and select the check mark
6. Click Insert
7. Click Close

Once inserted, you can copy/paste the symbol anywhere needed in your document.

Method 2: Set Keyboard Shortcut

For frequent use, create a keyboard shortcut to insert the check mark symbol:

1. Go to Insert tab > Symbols section > Symbol
2. Choose More Symbols > Wingdings font
3. Select check mark
4. Click AutoCorrect at bottom
5. In Replace: box type shortcut text (e.g. \chk)
6. Click Add
7. Click OK to close menus
8. Type shortcut text (\chk) and press spacebar to make check mark

Now just type your shortcut text followed by a space to quickly insert a check mark!

Method 3: Change Bullet Symbol

You can swap standard bullet points for check marks when creating lists:

1. Type out list and highlight all items
2. Click the Home tab > Paragraph section
3. Select the bullet list button (not the down arrow)
4. Click Define New Bullet…
5. Go to Symbol tab
6. Choose the Wingdings font
7. Select check mark symbol
8. Click OK

The highlighted list items will now show check marks instead of bullet points.

Method 4: Use Alt Code Shortcut

Using Alt codes, you can hold the Alt key and type a specific number sequence on your keyboard’s number pad to insert symbols, including check marks:

1. Place cursor where you want symbol
2. Hold down Alt key
3. While holding Alt, type 0152 or 0154 on number pad
4. Release Alt key after typing code

Note, you must use the numeric keypad on the right side of your keyboard, not the numbers across the top row.

Add Interactive Check Boxes

The methods above insert a static check mark symbol, but Word also allows you to add functional, interactive check boxes that users can click to check/uncheck.

To do this:

1. Go to Insert tab > Controls section
2. Click Check Box icon
3. Click in document where you want box placed
4. Type text next to box

Repeat adding more check boxes as needed.

Customize Check Mark Appearance

Don’t like the default look of check marks? You can modify them:

• Resize symbol: Click check mark > Home tab > Font section > Change font size
• Alter color: Select symbol > Home tab > Font section > Font color drop down > Choose color

You have options for check mark designs beyond the basic one as well. Explore different symbols under the Wingdings font menu.

Insert Check Marks on Mac

The process works much the same way in Word for Mac:

1. Place insertion point
2. Go to Insert > Symbol > More Symbols
3. Change font to Wingdings
4. Select check mark
5. Click Insert

Check marks in Word for Mac can also be inserted using Option + V keyboard shortcut or added as bullets to lists.

Check Marks in Other Office Apps

Along with Word, you can insert check marks into Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and other Office apps for Windows or Mac. The steps are very similar using the Symbol menu method.

So whether you’re creating spreadsheets, slide decks, emails or documents, check marks can come in handy!

Recap and Key Takeaways

Adding check marks in Word is simple once you know these techniques:

• Use Insert Symbol feature to add check mark from Wingdings font
• Create custom keyboard shortcut to quickly insert symbol
• Swap standard bullet points for check mark symbols
• Insert functional check boxes users can click/unclick
• Use Alt code number shortcuts to add symbol
• Works the same way in Word for Windows and Mac

Check marks allow you to organize information in digestible chunks, denote completed items, and give documents a polished, professional look.

Hopefully this guide has helped you learn multiple methods for successfully inserting check marks in your Word documents. Let us know if you have any other questions!