Four X cross ✗ choices in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

Type one of the four diagonal cross Mark ✗, multiplication or ballot symbols into Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint or Outlook.  Both in Office for Windows and Office for Mac.

The X or Cross Mark ✗ symbol is used for bullet or check lists and other indicators.  It’s the opposite of the tick or Checkmark.

There are four different X marks in Unicode with different names: ✕  Multiplication X – X  Heavy Multiplication X – ✗ Cross Mark / Ballot X and ✘ Heavy Ballot X

In Unicode symbol naming the word ‘Cross’ means a Christian style or “Latin Cross” like this ✝ or many variations.   Terms like Multiplication or Ballot are used for the diagonal cross as in “Tick or Cross”

How Cross Mark ✗ looks in normal, bold or italic

Here’s some examples of how the various Cross Mark ✗ looks in Segoe UI Symbol which is supplied with Office for Windows or Mac.

Multiplication X and Heavy Multiplication X

The two Multiplication X are upright and straight.

Ballot X and Heavy Ballot X

Ballot X and Heavy Ballot X are skewed for a slightly handwritten look with ‘brush strokes’ at the end.

Multipication X ✗ codes

These are the important code numbers or values you’ll need to enter the Multipication X or ✗

Decimal:  10005  Hex:   2715

Web:  ✕ or ✕

(web codes aren’t used in Microsoft Office, we’ve included them for the sake of completeness.)

The Multipication X  ✗  sign does NOT have an inbuilt shortcut in Word or Outlook. Use the standard Word Alt + X symbol shortcut 2715 then Alt + X . Once in a document you can copy it to AutoCorrect and make your own shortcut.

Heavy Multipication X X codes

These are the important code numbers or values you’ll need to enter the Heavy Multipication X or X

Decimal:  10006  Hex:   2716

Web:  ✖ or ✖

(web codes aren’t used in Microsoft Office, we’ve included them for the sake of completeness.)

The Heavy Multipication X  X  sign does NOT have an inbuilt shortcut in Word or Outlook. Use the standard Word Alt + X symbol shortcut 2716  then Alt + X

Ballot X ✗ codes

These are the important code numbers or values you’ll need to enter the Ballot X or ✗

Decimal:  10007  Hex:   2717

The HTML entity ✗ means the Ballot X symbol.

Web:  ✗ or ✗ or ✗

(web codes aren’t used in Microsoft Office, we’ve included them for the sake of completeness. )

The Ballot X  ✗  sign does NOT have an inbuilt shortcut in Word or Outlook. Use the standard Word Alt + X symbol shortcut 2717  then Alt + X

Heavy Ballot X ✘ codes

These are the important code numbers or values you’ll need to enter the Heavy Ballot X or ✘

Decimal:  10008  Hex:   2718

Web:  ✘ or ✘

(web codes aren’t used in Microsoft Office, we’ve included them for the sake of completeness.)

The Heavy Ballot X  ✘  sign does NOT have an inbuilt shortcut in Word or Outlook.

Use the standard Word Alt + X symbol shortcut 2718  then Alt + X

Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

Insert | Symbols | Symbol and look for the four X marks starting at Character Code 2715.

Windows

In Windows there are several shortcuts to enter the Cross Mark ✗  character into any program, but they use a numeric keypad, not the number row above the letters. For example  Alt + 10007  

Windows Character Map

The Windows Character Map accessory in all Windows releases.  Jump to Unicode 2715 then all four X symbol options appear in a row.

Character Map has a search feature, something missing from the Insert | Symbol in Office.

MacOS and Office for Mac inserting characters

On a Mac, to enter the Cross Mark ✗ symbol:

  • Command + Control + Spacebar shortcut to open the Character Viewer.  
  • Search for “ Ballot “ or “Multi” and the Viewer should find the symbol you need.

Despite the name Character Viewer, the Apple system tool will also insert characters into any program, including Office for Mac.

Type a Checkmark or tick ✓ in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
Tilde ~ symbol in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
Type Infinity ∞ symbols in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
Left Right arrow ↔ in Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and Word
Right arrow → symbol in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook