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Tech Talk Tuesday is a new feature on The Zen Introvert. April’s Theme is Computer Hacks to make your life easier.
There Is An Alternative to “Hunt and Peck”
We’re all looking for shortcuts, right? If you’re in a profession where you write a lot on your computer then you’re always looking for simple hacks to make life easier. I know I am. It wasn’t until I started blogging that I started searching for a copyright symbol. After having to do the search three or four times, I finally found easy hacks. Curious? Click the more and find out…
[/media-credit] Copyright Symbol Shortcuts ©
This will probably be the most used symbol in your arsenal of shortcuts and hacks.
Anything you write, photograph, create, draw, paint, etc. is legally yours and falls under copyright laws. Technically, you really don’t need to put the symbol on any of your works because of the copyright laws. I tend to put them on most of my graphics any original photographs that I publish. A copyright extends to all works both published and unpublished.
For more information, see the US government’s copyright website.
Keyboard Hack:
Windows Desktop – Hold down the ALT key and type 0169 on the numeric keypad (only works on the numeric keypad)
Windows Laptop – Hold down the ALT and FN keys and type 0169. This doesn’t work on all laptops and I haven’t found a workaround as of this writing. You can use your taskbar search at the bottom of your screen to search for ‘character map’. This will bring up a box of symbols that you can cut and paste into your document.
Mac – Hold down the Option key and type g.
Microsoft Word – Ctrl-Alt-c
This keyboard hack doesn’t seem to work in Canva, so I simply copied a copyright symbol and pasted it into a design I called Shortcuts. For all other designs, I simply go to the Shortcuts design and copy it from there.
Fun Fact: A copyright is valid on your work until 70 years after you die.
Trademark Symbol Shortcuts ™
This symbol can be used to identify work that has not yet been registered or is undergoing registration. However, I’m not a lawyer so please consult one or read further on the guidelines at US Patent and Trademark Office
Keyboard Hack:
Windows Desktop – Hold down the ALT key and type 0153 on the numeric keypad (only works on the numeric keypad)
Windows Laptop – Hold down the ALT and FN keys and type 0153. This doesn’t work on all laptops and I haven’t found a workaround as of this writing. You can use your taskbar search at the bottom of your screen to search for ‘character map’. This will bring up a box of symbols that you can cut and paste into your document. Click advanced and type ‘trade’. The TM symbol will appear.
Mac – Hold down the Option key and press 2.
Microsoft Word – Ctrl-Alt-t
Registered Symbol Shortcuts ®
This symbol can only be used on items that have been registered and accepted by the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Keyboard Hack:
Windows Desktop – Hold down the ALT key and type 0174 on the numeric keypad (only works on the numeric keypad)
Windows Laptop – Hold down the ALT and FN keys and type 0174. This doesn’t work on all laptops and I haven’t found a workaround as of this writing. You can use your taskbar search at the bottom of your screen to search for ‘character map’. This will bring up a box of symbols that you can cut and paste into your document.
Mac – Hold down the Option key and press r.
Microsoft Word – Ctrl-Alt-r
Resources used in this Tech Talk
US Patent and Trademark Office Trademarks Basics page
US Patent and Trademark Office Trademark About page
Related Articles
USPTO – Trademark, Patent, or Copyright?
That’s All She Wrote!
Stayed Tuned for next week and further Computer Hacks to make your life easier!
Say ‘To Tech with IT’ and go out and tame your tech monster!
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