The fastest way to add a trademark symbol

In Microsoft Word, the quickest method is to type the trademark symbol directly using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + T on Windows or Option + 2

If that shortcut does not work on your keyboard layout, Word also lets you insert the symbol through the Insert menu. Click Insert in the ribbon, then Symbol (or Special Characters on Mac), search for "trademark", and click Insert. The symbol appears wherever your cursor was positioned in the document.

Key Takeaways

  • The keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + T (Windows) or Option + 2 (Mac) inserts a trademark symbol instantly without opening menus.
  • If the shortcut does not work, use Insert > Symbol, search for "trademark", and click Insert to add it to your document.
  • The trademark symbol (™) is different from the registered trademark symbol (®), which uses Ctrl + Alt + R on Windows.
  • You can add the symbol to your AutoCorrect settings so that typing a specific shortcut like (TM) automatically converts to ™.

Using the Insert menu on Windows

Open your Word document and place your cursor where you want the trademark symbol to appear. Click the Insert tab in the ribbon at the top of the window.

In the Insert tab, locate the Symbol button on the right side of the ribbon. Click it, then select More Symbols from the dropdown menu. A dialog box opens showing available symbols.

In the dialog box, type "trademark" in the search field at the bottom, or scroll through the list until you find the ™ symbol. Click it once to select it, then click the Insert button. Close the dialog when finished.

Using the Insert menu on Mac

Place your cursor in the document where the symbol should go. Click Insert in the menu bar at the top of your screen, then select Special Characters from the dropdown.

The Special Characters panel opens on the right side of your screen. Type "trademark" in the search box at the top. The ™ symbol appears in the results. Double-click it to insert it into your document at the cursor position.

Setting up AutoCorrect for faster typing

If you use the trademark symbol often, you can set Word to convert a text shortcut into the symbol automatically. Open Word and click File, then Options (on Mac, click Word in the menu bar, then Preferences).

Find Proofing in the left sidebar, then click AutoCorrect Options. In the AutoCorrect dialog, click the AutoCorrect tab. In the "Replace" field, type the shortcut you want to use — for example, (TM) — and in the "With" field, paste or type the ™ symbol. Click Add, then OK.

From that point forward, whenever you type (TM) followed by a space or punctuation, Word automatically replaces it with ™. You can set up the same shortcut for the registered trademark symbol (®) using (R) if you prefer.

The difference between trademark and registered symbols

The trademark symbol (™) indicates that a word, phrase, or logo is claimed as a trademark by the owner, whether or not it is officially registered. The registered trademark symbol (®) means the trademark is officially registered with a government office like the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

On Windows, the registered symbol uses the shortcut Ctrl + Alt + R. On Mac, it is Option + R. Use ™ for unregistered marks and ® only for marks that have completed the official registration process.

Troubleshooting when the shortcut does not work

If Ctrl + Alt + T does not produce the trademark symbol, your keyboard layout or language settings may be different from the standard U.S. English setup. Try the Insert > Symbol method instead, which works regardless of keyboard layout.

On Mac, if Option + 2 does not work, check that you are using the correct Option key (some keyboards have two). If the symbol still does not appear, use the Special Characters panel from the Insert menu instead. You can also add the symbol to your AutoCorrect settings with a custom shortcut that works on any keyboard layout.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy and paste the trademark symbol from another document?

Yes. If you have the ™ symbol in another document or website, you can select it, copy it with Ctrl + C (or Cmd + C on Mac), then paste it into your Word document with Ctrl + V (or Cmd + V). This works on any computer regardless of keyboard layout.

What is the difference between ™ and TM?

The ™ symbol is the actual trademark character. TM is just the letters T and M typed next to each other. Formal documents and professional branding use the ™ symbol. Using TM is acceptable in casual writing or when the symbol is not available, but it is not the official trademark indicator.

Will the trademark symbol print correctly?

Yes, the trademark symbol prints the same way it appears on screen in Word. It is a standard character supported by all modern printers and fonts. If you are sharing the document as a PDF or sending it to someone else, the symbol will display correctly on their computer as well.

Can I make the trademark symbol smaller or superscript?

Yes. After inserting the symbol, select it by clicking and dragging over it. Then use the font size dropdown in the toolbar to make it smaller, or click the superscript button (the x² icon) to raise it above the baseline. Many style guides prefer the symbol in superscript and slightly smaller than the main text.