Windows operating system offers multiple ways to insert symbols, emoji and special characters. You can use alt keys, emoji panel or character map app and insert symbols in any text area like chatting apps and documents. Similarly, you can use character viewer and option code shortcuts in macOS for typing symbols. However, do you know that you can easily insert symbols using voice commands? In this article, we will explain how to use voice commands and list of commands to insert popular symbols.
Using Voice Typing in Windows and Mac
Voice commands work in Windows and Mac without any additional setup. All what you need is to press “Win + H” keys in Windows PC to open voice typing toolbar. On Mac, press the function key twice to open dictation toolbar. In both cases, you will see a microphone icon which you can press and start speaking the command. After inserting a symbol, you can continue typing with keyboard or press the microphone icon again to disable voice typing. Learn more about how to use voice typing and dictation feature in Windows and Mac.
Voice Commands for Symbols
Below is the list of voice commands you can use to insert symbols in English language. Good part is that most of the commands are same in Windows and Mac like dollar sign or degree sign.
| Symbol | Windows Voice Command | Mac Voice Command |
|---|---|---|
| _ | Underscore | Underscore |
| – | Hyphen | Hyphen |
| – | Minus sign | Minus sign |
| — | M-dash | Dash |
・ | Centre dot | |
| , | Comma | Comma |
| ; | Semicolon | Semicolon |
| ;) | Winky face | Winking face – looks ;-) |
| : | Colon | Colon |
| :( | Frowny face | Frowny face – looks :-( |
| :) | Smiley face | Smiley face – looks :-) |
| ! | Exclamation mark Exclamation point | Exclamation mark |
| ? | Question mark | Question mark |
| . | Period Full stop | Period Point Dot Full stop |
| … | Ellipsis Dot dot dot | Ellipsis |
| ‘s | Apostrophe-s | Apostrophe ‘ |
| ‘ | Begin single quote Open single quote | Begin single quote |
| ’ | End single quote Close single quote | End single quote |
| “ | Open quotes | Quote |
| ” | Close quotes | End quote |
| ( | Left parentheses Open parentheses | Open parenthesis |
| ) | Right parentheses Close parentheses | Close parenthesis |
| [ | Left bracket Open bracket | Open bracket |
| ] | Right bracket Close bracket | Close bracket |
| { | Left brace Open brace | Open curly bracket |
| } | Right brace Close brace | Close curly bracket |
| § | Section sign | |
| ¶ | Paragraph sign Paragraph mark | |
| @ | At sign At mention | At sign |
| * | Asterisk | Asterisk |
| / | Forward slash | Forward slash |
| \ | Backslash | Backslash |
| & | Ampersand And sign | Ampersand |
| # | Number sign Pound sign | Hashtag sign |
| % | Percent sign | Percent sign |
| ` | Backquote Backtick | |
| ^ | Caret symbol | Caret |
| ° | Degree symbol Degree sign | Degree sign |
| © | Copyright sign Copyright mark | Copyright sign |
| ® | Registered sign | Registered sign |
| + | Plus sign | Plus sign |
| ± | Plus or minus sign | |
| ÷ | Division sign | |
| × | Multiplication sign | Multiplication sign |
| < | Left angle bracket Open angle bracket Less than sign | Open angle bracket Less than sign |
| <3 | Heart emoji | |
| = | Equal sign | Equal sign |
| > | Right angle bracket Close angle bracket Greater than sign | Close angle bracket Greater than sign |
| | | Vertical bar sign Vertical bar character Pipe character | Vertical bar |
| ~ | Tilde symbol | |
| ● | Large centre dot | |
| ¢ | Cent sign | |
| $ | Dollar sign | Dollar sign |
| £ | Pound Sterling sign | Pound Sterling sign |
| ¥ | Yen sign | Yen sign |
| € | Euro sign | Euro sign |
| ™ | Trademark sign | |
| XD | Cross-eyed laughing face |
Though there are limited symbols you can insert with voice commands, they are useful especially when keyboard shortcuts are not working on your computer.
Example of Inserting Symbol with Voice Command
Let us say, you want to insert copyright symbol in a Word or Pages document.
- Press “Win + H” and say, “copyright sign” to insert the symbol.
- Two times press the function key and say, “copyright sign” on Mac.
Note: If you want to insert colorful emoji symbols, then use emoji panel in Windows and Character Viewer app in Mac. Microsoft Word also comes with dictate function with separate set of voice input commands which you can use instead of the above listed commands.
