How to Make a Bullet Point Using the Alt Key

A bullet point is often used to entries in a list in a document or presentation. You can type a bullet symbol or find a dot symbol using various codes with the "Alt" key on Windows. You can also type one on a Mac or find one in the Windows or Mac character map tools.

If you're using Microsoft Windows, you can type a bullet by holding down the "Alt" key on your keyboard and typing the bullet alt code, which is "0149," on your numeric keypad, on the right side of your keyboard.

If you're using a Mac, hold down the "Alt" key, which is also the "Option" key, and press "8." You don't need a numeric keypad for this to work on a Mac.

If you don't have a numeric keypad or want to use another method, many software tools provide alternative ways to insert a bullet point.

For example, Microsoft Word will create a bulleted list if you begin a line of text with the asterisk symbol, "*," which you can find on your keyboard.

In Microsoft Excel, you can click the "Insert" tab on the ribbon menu, then click "Symbol." In the "Character code" input in the dialog box, type "2022" and click "Insert." Then, click "Close."

In HTML, if you're editing a web page, you can create a bulleted list with the "

" HTML tag, which stands for "unordered list." Enclose the entire list with an opening "
" tag and a closing "
tag, and wrap each list entry with "
• and "
" tags, standing for "list item."

If you are using another program or operating system and aren't sure how to type a bullet on your computer or smart phone, you can also search for one online and copy it to your document.

You can insert a bullet symbol using the Windows Character Map.

On Windows, you can type "Character Map" into the search box on the Start Menu or the taskbar to open the program. Then, search through the list of characters for the one you want to insert into your document.

When you find the right character, highlight it and click the "Select" button to move it to the "Characters to Copy" field. Select the font you want from the dropdown menu. Then, select the characters you want within the "Characters to Copy" field and click the "Copy" button. Return to the program where you are typing and use its paste functionality, or hold down "Control" and hit the "V" key, to insert the character.

The Mac "Emoji & Symbols" menu works similarly to the Windows Character Map.

Open it by clicking the "Edit" menu in most programs, then clicking "Emoji & Symbols." Scroll through the symbols or use the search box to search for a symbol by name.

Click the symbol you want to insert it into your document.