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Inserting Legal Symbols in MS Word

Inserting Legal Symbols in MS Word

MS Word often appears as an expansive yet mysterious universe of document editing. It brims over with features, some of which we seldom use. They orbit in the background of our work like lonely planets or flying meteors, just waiting to be discovered. One such helpful feature, which is often undervalued, especially for those who deal with legal documents quite frequently, is the provision for legal symbols.

These symbols clarify and restrict key aspects of names, parties, and structural elements in legal documents. However, finding and inserting these legal symbols swiftly and efficiently in Word can sometimes feel like trying to decode cryptic keyboard shortcuts, which can be frustrating!

This guide aims to help you navigate this challenge, answering how to insert legal symbols in Word with the least possible hassle. If you wish to explore MS Word’s features and capabilities further (especially about legal documentation), make sure to take a look at our comprehensive Guide to MS Word for Lawyers.

So, without further ado, let’s dive into it, starting right at the top of Word’s toolbar.

Mastering Legal Symbols in MS Word

Legal document symbols are neatly tucked under the ‘Insert’ tab within MS Word on both macOS and Windows. After opening MS Word, head to this tab and click on ‘Advanced Symbol’ if you’re working on a Mac or ‘Symbol,’ followed by ‘More symbols’ if you’re on Windows. This will prompt a new window to pop up on your screen.

The next challenge presents itself: sifting through the array of symbol collections to find the legal symbol you need. Well, that’s simpler than it may initially appear! All you need to do is click on the ‘Special Characters’ tab within the same window, whether on a Mac or Windows. Here, you will find a comprehensive list featuring symbols commonly woven into legal documents. Icons such as Copyright ©, Registered Sign ®, Trademark™, and Section §, among others, will be displayed, ready to be selected and inserted into your document.

A beneficial feature you’ll notice next is the arrangement of keyboard shortcuts located on your right. Observing the ‘Keyboard Shortcut’ column on a Mac or the ‘Shortcut Key’ column on Windows can provide speedy access to the legal symbols on your keyboard that you need in your document, saving valuable time!

Now, what if you often find yourself using the same set of symbols consistently? In that case, creating a custom keyboard for your most frequently used symbols is beneficial. How do you go about doing that? Simply select the symbol you need from the table. Below it, you’ll see ‘Keyboard Shortcut’ on a Mac and ‘Shortcut Key’ on Windows. By following these steps, you’ve just created your shortcut! If you’re on Windows, you’ll even see the preset shortcut key for your chosen symbol immediately.

But worry not if you decide to alter the custom keys; it’s as simple as creating them. All you need to do is open the ‘Customize Keyboard’ window in the ‘Special Characters’ tab in Word’s Symbols section. Click on ‘Remove,’ and voila! You’ve successfully undone the custom keyboard shortcut.

Because we sometimes need to work faster and more intuitively, we must examine the ‘Auto-correct’ option within the ‘Symbol’ window. This helpful tool can transform your standard characters into specific legal symbols seamlessly.

And One More Useful Tool

Because we sometimes need to work faster and more intuitively, we also need to examine the ‘Auto-correct’ option within the ‘Symbol’ window. This helpful tool can transform your standard characters into specific legal symbols seamlessly.

On a Mac, the ‘Auto-Correct’ tab expands into four subtabs — ‘AutoCorrect,’ ‘Maths AutoCorrect,’ ‘AutoFormat As You Type,’ and ‘AutoText.’ On Windows, on the other hand, you’ll see two: ‘AutoCorrect’ and ‘Math Autocorrect.’ All these tabs assist you in swiftly correcting typos in your document’s text and replacing typed characters with concrete symbols.

So, whether you prefer to type using keyboard shortcuts or select and insert from the symbols table is up to you. Most importantly, these symbols make your legal document look more official, easily understandable, and well-structured.

For those interested in exploring more advanced tools, you should delve into plugins or add-ins offered by MS Word. They can boost your work productivity by leaps and bounds. One such plugin is Loio, our contract drafting and review plugin for Word, which recently gained some noteworthy updates. These updates aim to improve comprehensive document analysis and error detection, so feel free to explore how beneficial they can be to your work.

In legal agreements, the Master Use License Agreement encapsulates the terms and conditions governing the authorized usage of a product or service. It delineates the rights conferred upon the licensee and outlines the responsibilities of the licensor, ensuring a clear and structured agreement that mitigates any potential usage conflicts. This legal document plays a pivotal role in defining the parameters under which intellectual property can be utilized, safeguarding the interests of all parties involved while facilitating a harmonious and compliant business relationship.

With this detailed guide, we hope you can incorporate legal symbols swiftly and effortlessly into your contracts. Let your legal documents stand out with professionalism and success! Happy crafting!

Article by Yevheniia Savchenko

Yevheniia Savchenko is a Product Content Manager at Lawrina. Yevheniia creates user interface copies for Lawrina products, writes release notes, and helps customers get the best user experience from all Lawrina products. Also, Yevheniia is in charge of creating helpful content on legal template pages (Lawrina Templates) and up-to-date information on US law (Lawrina Guides). In her spare time, Yevheniia takes up swimming, travels, and goes for a walk in her home city.

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