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The Old Alt + X trick

Here is how to quickly insert symbols in Word without taking your fingers off the keyboard.

Inserting Symbols into Word documents takes time when you have to go up to the ribbon Insert | Symbols | Symbol at the very least.    So why not just keep your fingers on the keyboard?

Type in the hexadecimal Unicode value of the symbol you want, then press Alt + X.  The value will be changed to the Symbol automatically.

Tips:

• The leading zeroes aren’t necessary – 00A5 and A5 both work to make the Yen symbol.
• Case doesn’t matter – a9 and A9 both work to make the Copyright symbol.
• Make a mistake? – as always, Undo is your friend – Ctrl + Z

No one expects you to remember all the hex codes, after all there are over 40,000 of them in Unicode. Just remember the ones you need to most.

Here’s a few common Alt + X shortcuts plus others, with their shortcuts that are in Office itself.