Microsoft Word provides features to insert special symbols, characters, and dates into a document easily. These are often used in reports, research papers, resumes, and official documents to improve readability and professionalism.
1. Inserting Special Symbols
Meaning:
Special symbols are characters that are not available on the keyboard, such as ©, €, ®, ™, ±, ≤, and mathematical or Greek symbols.
Steps to Insert Symbols:
- Open your Word document.
- Place the cursor where you want to insert the symbol.
- Go to the Insert tab on the Ribbon.
- Click on Symbol (at the far right side).
- Choose More Symbols…
- A dialog box appears — select a Font and then click the symbol you need.
- Click Insert, then Close.
Examples of Common Symbols:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| © | Copyright |
| ® | Registered Trademark |
| ™ | Trademark |
| ± | Plus/Minus |
| § | Section |
| → | Arrow |
| ° | Degree |
| µ | Micro |
| Ω | Ohm |
| £ / € / ¥ | Currency symbols |
2. Using Shortcut Keys for Symbols
Word also supports keyboard shortcuts for some commonly used symbols:
| Symbol | Shortcut Key |
|---|---|
| © | Alt + 0169 |
| ® | Alt + 0174 |
| ° | Alt + 0176 |
| ± | Alt + 0177 |
| § | Alt + 0167 |
| ¶ | Alt + 0182 |
(Hold the Alt key and type the numbers on the numeric keypad.)
3. Inserting Dates and Times
Purpose:
Inserting the date helps indicate when a document was created, edited, or printed. Word can also automatically update the date each time you open or print the document.
Steps to Insert Date and Time:
- Place the cursor where you want to insert the date.
- Go to the Insert tab → Date & Time (in the Text group).
- Select a date format from the list.
- If you want the date to update automatically, check the box “Update automatically.”
- Click OK.
Examples of Date Formats:
| Example | Description |
|---|---|
| October 17, 2025 | Full date (Month Day, Year) |
| 17/10/2025 | Numeric format |
| Friday, October 17, 2025 | Full day and date format |
4. Automatic Date Field
You can also use Word’s field codes to insert dates that automatically update:
- Press:
Alt + Shift + D→ Inserts current date. - Press:
Alt + Shift + T→ Inserts current time.
When the document is opened later, the date/time can refresh automatically if you chose “Update automatically.”
5. Importance of Using Symbols and Dates
✅ Makes documents more professional and easy to read.
✅ Helps in accurate representation of information (e.g., using °C, ±, or µ).
✅ Auto-updating dates are useful for letters, reports, and templates.
Summary
| Feature | Description | Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Special Symbols | Insert characters not on keyboard | Insert → Symbol |
| Date and Time | Add or auto-update date/time | Insert → Date & Time |
| Common Shortcuts | For quick symbol entry | Alt + Number code |
| Auto-update Option | Automatically refresh date/time | Check “Update automatically” |