The fastest way to add a trademark symbol

In Microsoft Word, type the trademark symbol by holding Alt and pressing 0153 on the numeric keypad, then releasing Alt. The ™ symbol appears when ready. This works on Windows machines with a numeric keypad — the number row above the letters does not work for this shortcut.

If you are on a Mac or do not have a numeric keypad, Word offers two other routes: the Insert menu or the AutoCorrect feature. Both take a few extra seconds but work on any machine. The method you choose depends on whether you type the trademark symbol once in a while or regularly in your documents.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows with a numeric keypad, Alt+0153 is the fastest way to insert a trademark symbol without interrupting your typing.
  • On Mac, use Insert > Special Characters, search for "trademark", and double-click the ™ symbol to add it to your document.
  • You can set up AutoCorrect to replace a short code like "(tm)" with ™ automatically, so the symbol appears as you type.
  • Once you insert a trademark symbol, you can copy it and paste it elsewhere in the same document or into other files.

Using the numeric keypad shortcut on Windows

The numeric keypad method is the quickest if your keyboard has a separate number pad on the right side. Position your cursor where you want the trademark symbol to appear, then hold down the Alt key and type 0153 on the numeric keypad. Release Alt, and the ™ symbol appears in your document.

The number row at the top of your keyboard will not work for this — you must use the dedicated numeric keypad. If your laptop does not have one, you can enable a software numeric keypad on Windows by holding Fn and using the number keys, but this varies by laptop model. In that case, the Insert menu method below is more reliable.

Inserting the symbol through the Insert menu

On any machine, you can reach the trademark symbol through Word's Insert menu. Click Insert in the ribbon at the top, then click Symbol (or Special Characters on Mac). A dialog box opens showing available symbols.

Type "trademark" in the search box to filter the list, or scroll down to find the ™ symbol. Click it once to select it, then click Insert to add it to your document. Close the dialog when you are done. This method is slower than the keyboard shortcut but works the same way on Windows, Mac, and older versions of Word.

Setting up AutoCorrect to type the symbol faster

If you use the trademark symbol regularly, set up AutoCorrect so that typing a short code automatically replaces it with ™. Open Word and click File, then Options (or Preferences on Mac). Navigate to Proofing, then click AutoCorrect Options.

In the AutoCorrect dialog, type a code you will remember in the Replace field — for example, "(tm)" or "TM". In the With field, paste or type the trademark symbol (you can copy one from a document where you have already inserted it). Click Add, then OK. From now on, whenever you type your code and press space or punctuation, Word replaces it with ™ automatically.

Copying and pasting a trademark symbol you have already created

Once you have inserted a trademark symbol anywhere in your document, you can reuse it by copying and pasting. Click once on the ™ symbol to position your cursor right before it, then drag to select it (or double-click it). Press Ctrl+C (or Cmd+C on Mac) to copy.

Move to the location where you want to paste the symbol and press Ctrl+V (or Cmd+V on Mac). This is useful if you have already inserted the symbol once and need it again in the same document or in another file. You can also save the symbol to your clipboard and paste it across different programs.

Differences between the trademark symbol and similar marks

The trademark symbol ™ is different from the registered trademark symbol ®, which indicates a mark that is officially registered with a government office like the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The ® symbol is less common in everyday documents but can be inserted the same way — search for "registered" in the Symbol menu or use Alt+0174 on Windows.

A service mark symbol ℠ also exists for services rather than products, though it is used less often. For most purposes, the plain ™ symbol is what you need. If you are writing legal or marketing documents where the distinction matters, check your organization's style guide to see which symbol they require.

Troubleshooting when the symbol does not appear

If Alt+0153 does not produce a trademark symbol on Windows, check that you are using the numeric keypad on the right side of your keyboard, not the number row. If your laptop has no separate numeric keypad, try enabling Num Lock first — a light on your keyboard should indicate when it is on. If the symbol still does not appear, use the Insert menu method instead.

On Mac, the numeric keypad shortcut does not work at all — use the Insert > Special Characters menu instead. If the Symbol or Special Characters option is not visible in your Insert menu, you may be using an older version of Word. In that case, try the AutoCorrect method, which works across all versions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I type the trademark symbol on my phone or tablet?

On most phones, hold down the period key or the "123" key to access a menu of symbols, then look for ™. On iPad, you can use the Insert > Symbol menu in Word for iPad the same way you would on a computer. The exact steps vary by device and Word version.

What if I need to use the trademark symbol in a different program?

The Alt+0153 shortcut works in most Windows programs, including email and web browsers. On Mac, copy the symbol from Word and paste it anywhere. You can also search for "trademark symbol" online, copy it from a search result, and paste it into any document.

Does the trademark symbol count as a character in my word count?

Yes, the trademark symbol counts as one character in Word's word count. If you are working within a strict character limit, keep this in mind when using it repeatedly.

Can I make the trademark symbol smaller or superscript?

Yes. After inserting the symbol, select it and use the formatting options in the Home tab — you can reduce the font size, make it superscript, or change its color the same way you would format any other character in your document.