Checkmark Symbols to Copy & Paste
There is no checkmark in the original ASCII character set. When people search for an "ASCII checkmark" they almost always want ✓ (U+2713), which is a Unicode character. That is fine — every modern device supports it — but it is worth knowing the distinction so your text stays readable everywhere. Below are the checkmarks people actually use, each with its Unicode point, HTML entity, and typing shortcut.
How to type a checkmark on Windows and Mac
On Windows, hold the Alt key and type 251 on the numeric keypad for √, or use the Character Map app (search "charmap") to insert ✓ and ✔ directly. In Microsoft Word you can type 2713 then press Alt+X to convert it into ✓. On a Mac, open the emoji and symbol viewer with Control+Command+Space, then search "check" to insert ✓, ✔, or ✅. There is no single default keystroke for the plain check mark on either platform, which is why copy-and-paste is the fastest route.
Checkmarks in HTML and code
In HTML you can write a check mark as an entity so it renders regardless of file encoding: ✓ produces ✓ and ✔ produces ✔. You can also paste the literal character directly if your document is saved as UTF-8, which is the modern default. In source code and JSON, the escape \u2713 represents ✓. Emoji checkmarks like ✅ (U+2705) are full-color glyphs and behave differently from the monochrome ✓ — pick the plain version for UI text and the emoji for chat or social posts.