Add An Easily Accessible Check Mark

Q. This may sound trivial, but it really bugs me: How come Word doesn’t have a real check mark graphic—that is, a check inside a little box? When I prepare a checklist, I want to use a real check mark—not the skinny, emaciated one Microsoft provides.

A. You’ll be pleased to know Word has a way to add a robust check mark in a box; it looks like this:

Or you can select many other kinds of bulletlike graphics you can easily access by customizing the default Bullets and Numbering option.

Begin by clicking on the Format menu and then Bullets and Numbering .

Be sure to select the Bulleted tab in the opening screen and then click on your least used graphic in that collection—one you won’t miss if you replace it with a new choice. Then click on Customize to display the Customize Bulleted List dialog box (see screen below)

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Then click on Character , which brings up the Symbols screen shown below.

You’ll find the check mark in a box under Wingdings .

For even more choices, return to the Customized Bulleted List and go through the available graphics category choices ( Font , Character and Picture ) until you find one that you like; then highlight it and click on OK .