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Tech for Lawyering Competencies: Research & Writing: MS Word for Lawyers: Insert Special Symbol

Covers technology that assists with note-taking and writing

Overview

Lawyers commonly use special symbols in their documents. Word has the capability to add these to your document as well as assign AutoCorrect and Shortcut Keys to help save you time. 

How to Insert and Locate Symbols

Insert a symbol

  1. Click where you want to insert the symbol.
  2. On the Insert tab, in the Symbols group, click Symbol.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Click the symbol that you want in the drop-down list.
    • If the symbol that you want to insert is not in the list, click More Symbols. In the Font box, click the font that you want, click the symbol that you want to insert, and then click Insert.
  4. Click Close.

Set an AutoCorrect for Section symbol

 

  1. On the Insert tab, in the Symbols group, click Symbol.
  2. Click More Symbols.
  3. Locate and click the section symbol (seen above).
  4. Click AutoCorrect button.
  5. In the Replace field type the shortcut text you want (I used ss).
  6. Click Ok.
  7. Click Close.

Assign a Shortcuy Key to a symbol

  1. On the Insert tab, in the Symbols group, click Symbol.
  2. Click More Symbols.
  3. Locate and click the section symbol (seen above).
  4. Click Shortcut Key button.
  5. In the Press new shortcut key assign your preference (I chose Alt+Shift+S). [NOTE: See if your selection is already assigned and proceed accordingly]
  6. Click Assign.
  7. Click Close.
  8. Click Close.