How to Insert a Checkmark or Verification Symbol in Google Docs (4 Methods)

Published by the Crawlan.com Team on September 7, 2023.

Have you ever wondered how to insert a checkmark or verification symbol in a Google Docs file? Whether you want to indicate completion, mark something as verified, or create a checklist, there are several ways to insert a checkmark or verification symbol in Google Docs. In this article, we will explore four methods to help you do just that!

Method 1: Insert a Checkmark Using the “Insert Special Characters” Function

One method to insert a checkmark or verification symbol in a Google Docs file is by using the “Insert Special Characters” function. Here’s how:

1. Position your cursor in the document where you want to insert the checkmark.
2. Click on the Insert menu. A dropdown menu will appear.
3. Select Special characters. A dialog box will appear.
4. In the search box, type “checkmark” or “verification symbol”. The checkmarks will appear on the left.
5. Click on the checkmark you want to use.
6. Click Close (X in the top right corner of the dialog box).

Method 2: Insert a Checkmark Using Bullets

If you want to insert a checkmark at the beginning of one or more paragraphs, you can use custom bullets. Here’s how:

1. Select the paragraph(s) where you want to add the checkmarks.
2. Click on the Format menu. A dropdown menu will appear.
3. Select Bullets and numbering, then List options, and finally More bullets. The “Insert Special Characters” dialog box will appear.
4. In the search box, type “checkmark” or “verification symbol”. The checkmarks will appear on the left.
5. Click on the checkmark you want to use.
6. Click Close (X in the top right corner of the dialog box).

Method 3: Insert a Clickable Checkbox in a Checklist

If you want to insert a clickable checkbox at the beginning of one or more paragraphs, you can create a checklist. This is particularly useful for to-do lists. Here’s how:

1. Select the paragraph(s) where you want to add the clickable checkbox.
2. Click on the Format menu. A dropdown menu will appear.
3. Select Bullets and numbering, then List options, and finally Checkbox list. A checkbox will be added at the beginning of each paragraph.
4. Click on the checkbox to add or remove a checkmark.

Method 4: Insert a Checkmark Using a Substitution Shortcut

To add a checkmark in Google Docs for use as a substitution keyboard shortcut, follow these steps:

1. Position your cursor in a document.
2. Click on the Insert menu. A dropdown menu will appear.
3. Select Special characters. A dialog box will appear.
4. In the search box, type “verification symbol”. The checkmarks will appear on the left.
5. Click on the checkmark you want to use.
6. Click Close (X in the top right corner of the dialog box).
7. Select the checkmark and press Ctrl + C to copy it.
8. Click on the Tools menu. A dropdown menu will appear.
9. Click on Preferences. A dialog box will appear.
10. Click on the Substitutions tab.
11. Click in the Replace with box and press Ctrl + V to paste the checkmark.
12. Click in the Replace box and type the letter and symbol combination you want to use as a substitution, for example, “(c1)”.
13. Click OK.

To use the shortcut in a document, type the substitution and then press the spacebar.

And voilà! Now you know four different methods to insert a checkmark or verification symbol in Google Docs. Try these methods to make your documents clearer and more organized. For more tips and tricks, visit Crawlan.com.

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