The fastest way: use the Insert menu

Open your document in Microsoft Word and place your cursor right after the word or phrase you want to mark. Go to the Insert tab at the top, then click Symbol (on the right side of the ribbon). A dropdown menu appears — click More Symbols at the bottom.

In the window that opens, make sure the font is set to (normal text) or any standard font. In the search box at the bottom, type trademark. The ™ symbol appears in the list. Click it once to select it, then click Insert. Close the window when you're done.

The symbol lands right where your cursor was. If it's too large or small compared to your text, select it and adjust the font size to match the rest of your document — trademark symbols are usually set 2 to 4 points smaller than body text.

Key Takeaways

  • The Insert menu route (Insert > Symbol > More Symbols > search "trademark") works in all versions of Word and takes about 10 seconds once you know where to look.
  • The keyboard shortcut Alt+0153 works on Windows machines with a numeric keypad, but not on laptops without one or on Mac.
  • Registered trademark (®) uses Alt+0174 on Windows; superscript TM in parentheses is an alternative that works everywhere without special characters.
  • Once you insert a symbol, you can copy it and paste it elsewhere in your document instead of repeating the Insert menu steps.
  • Word's AutoCorrect feature can turn (TM) into ™ automatically if you set it up in File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options.

Using the keyboard shortcut on Windows

If you have a numeric keypad on the right side of your keyboard, you can type the trademark symbol directly. Hold down Alt and type 0153 on the numeric keypad (not the numbers across the top of the keyboard). Release Alt, and the ™ symbol appears.

This only works on Windows machines with a dedicated numeric keypad. Laptops without one, Macs, and Chromebooks do not support this method. If you try it and nothing happens, your keyboard does not have a numeric keypad — use the Insert menu instead.

Setting up AutoCorrect to do it automatically

If you type the trademark symbol often, you can teach Word to insert it whenever you type a shortcut. Open File, then Options, then Proofing, then AutoCorrect Options. In the window that opens, go to the AutoCorrect tab.

In the Replace field, type (TM). In the With field, paste the ™ symbol (copy it from your document or from the Insert > Symbol menu). Click Add, then OK. Now whenever you type (TM) followed by a space, Word replaces it with ™ automatically.

This saves time if you're writing a document with many trademark references, but it only works on your own computer — if you share the document with someone else, they will see (TM) unless they set up the same AutoCorrect rule.

Registered trademark and other symbols

The registered trademark symbol (®) uses the same Insert menu method: go to Insert > Symbol > More Symbols, search for registered, and click Insert. On Windows with a numeric keypad, Alt+0174 types it directly.

Copyright (©) and service mark (℠) follow the same pattern — all are in the Insert > Symbol menu. If you use multiple symbols regularly, set up AutoCorrect shortcuts for each one so you do not have to open the menu repeatedly.

Why the symbol might look wrong in your document

Sometimes the trademark symbol appears much larger or smaller than your text, or in a different style. This happens because Word inserted it in a different font than the rest of your paragraph. Select the symbol, then change its font to match the surrounding text using the font dropdown in the toolbar.

If the symbol is too large, select it and reduce the font size by 2 to 4 points — trademark symbols are traditionally set smaller than body text. If it still looks off, try a different font that your document already uses; some fonts render the symbol more cleanly than others.

Copying and pasting the symbol to save time

Once you have inserted the trademark symbol once, you do not have to use the Insert menu again. Select the ™ symbol in your document, copy it (Ctrl+C on Windows, Command+C on Mac), then paste it (Ctrl+V or Command+V) wherever else you need it in the same document.

This is faster than opening the Insert menu multiple times, especially if you are adding the symbol to many places. The pasted symbol keeps the same font and size as the original, so it will match your text automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the trademark symbol work the same way in Google Docs?

No. Google Docs does not have an Insert > Symbol menu. Instead, use Ctrl+Command+U on Mac or Ctrl+Shift+U on Windows, then type 2122 and press Enter. Alternatively, type (TM) and Google Docs will suggest the symbol as you type.

Can I use superscript TM instead of the actual symbol?

Yes. Type TM, select it, then press Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows) or Command+Shift+P (Mac) to make it superscript. This works everywhere and looks professional, though it is not the official trademark symbol. Many companies use this method because it avoids special character issues.

What if Alt+0153 does not work on my Windows computer?

Your keyboard probably does not have a numeric keypad, or Num Lock is off. Check the right side of your keyboard for a separate number pad. If it is not there, use the Insert > Symbol menu instead. If Num Lock is off, press the Num Lock key and try again.

Will the trademark symbol stay if I save the document as a PDF?

Yes. The symbol converts to PDF without any problems. It also stays intact if you save as .docx or .doc format. If you save as plain text (.txt), the symbol may be lost because plain text does not support special characters.

Can I search for the trademark symbol in my document?

Yes, but it is easier to use Find & Replace. Press Ctrl+H (Windows) or Command+H (Mac), paste the ™ symbol in the Find field, and leave Replace blank to remove all instances. Or paste a different symbol in the Replace field to swap them throughout the document.