Cross & X Mark Symbols to Copy & Paste
The plain letter x and the ASCII asterisk are the only true cross-like marks in the original ASCII set. The tidy "no" and cross marks people usually want — ✗, ✘, ❌ — are Unicode characters. They are universally supported today, but knowing which is which helps you pick a mark that pairs cleanly with a checkmark. Note that × (U+00D7) is the multiplication sign, not a letter x; using the correct one matters in code and math.
How to type a cross or X mark
On Windows, Alt+0215 on the numeric keypad produces × (the multiplication sign), which is often used as a lightweight X. For ✗ and ✘ use the Character Map app or copy them from this page. In Word, type 2717 and press Alt+X to get ✗. On a Mac, Option+Shift+= inserts ± and there is no default key for the ballot X, so open the symbol viewer with Control+Command+Space and search "ballot" or "cross" to insert ✗, ✘, or ❌.
Choosing the right X in code and design
For close buttons and "remove" icons in a UI, ✕ (U+2715) or × (U+00D7) look cleaner than a lowercase letter x because they are visually centered and symmetric. Reserve × strictly for its meaning as multiplication in math contexts to avoid confusing screen readers, which announce it as "times". In HTML, ✗ renders ✗ and × renders ×. When you want a red status indicator in chat or social media, the emoji ❌ (U+274C) stands out, but for body text a monochrome ✗ that inherits the text color is usually the better choice.