How to Insert or Type an Upside Down Question Mark in Word (4 Ways to Insert ¿ with Shortcuts)

Insert or Type an Upside Down or Spanish Question Mark in Word

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated April 30, 2023

Applies to: Microsoft^® Word^® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 or 365 (Windows)

You can insert or type an upside down question mark symbol (¿) in a Microsoft Word document using the Insert Symbol command or by using keyboard shortcuts. The upside down or Spanish question mark is used in the Spanish language to begin a question.

In this article, we'll review 4 ways to insert an upside down question mark (Spanish question mark) in Word:

1. Use the Insert Symbol command
2. Use an Alt code keyboard shortcut
3. Use a Ctrl key keyboard shortcut
4. Create a custom keyboard shortcut

Recommended article: How to Add Page Numbers in Word

Note: We are using a US keyboard layout but the strategies and shortcuts apply to English Canada keyboards. Keyboard shortcuts may work differently depending on your keyboard layout / language.

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1. Insert an upside down question mark symbol using Insert Symbol

You can use the Insert Symbol command to insert special characters in Word documents.

To insert an upside down question mark symbol using Insert Symbol:

1. Click where you want to insert the symbol.
2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
3. In the Symbols group, click Symbol. A drop-down menu appears.
4. Click More Symbols. A dialog box appears.
5. If necessary, click the Symbols tab.
6. Select (normal text) from the Font drop-down menu.
7. Choose Latin-1 Supplement from the subset menu on the top right.
8. Click the upside down or inverted question mark.
9. Click Insert.
10. Click Close.

Below is the Insert Symbol dialog box in Word:

You can insert many other special characters using Insert Symbol including accents and Wingdings characters.

2. Insert an upside down question mark using an Alt code keyboard shortcut

You can press the Alt key in combination with numbers on the numeric keypad to insert special characters and symbols.

To insert an upside question mark, press Alt + 0191 or Alt + 168 on the numeric keypad.

If the sequence doesn't work, press the NumLock key on the numeric keypad. If you don't have a numeric keypad, you may be able to press the Fn key and access the numbers at the top of your keyboard.

3. Insert an upside down question mark using a Ctrl key shortcut

In Word, you can use a Ctrl key shortcut to insert an upside down question mark. Press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + /. The / is actually the ? key. You will need to press all of the keys together at the same time.

4. Create a custom keyboard shortcut to insert an upside down question mark

You can use the Insert Symbol command to create a custom keyboard shortcut.

To create a custom keyboard shortcut to insert an upside down question mark:

1. Click in a Word document.
2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
3. In the Symbols group, click Symbol. A drop-down menu appears.
4. Click More Symbols. A dialog box appears.
5. If necessary, click the Symbols tab.
6. Select (normal text) from the Font drop-down menu.
7. Choose Latin-1 Supplement from the subset menu on the top right.
8. Click the upside down or inverted question mark.
9. Click Shortcut. A dialog box appears.
10. In the Press new shortcut key box, press the keys you want to use (such as Ctrl + Shift + /).
11. Click Assign.
12. Click Close twice.

You will now be able to use your new shortcut key.

Below is the Customize Keyboard dialog box in Word:

Although there are a few other ways to insert the upside down question mark in Word, these are the easiest methods.

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