Insert Symbols

• The Symbols tool available in Microsoft Word 2003 allows you to place a variety of symbols in your document. Whether you're typing a mathematical formula, inserting a Greek letter or adding a copyright notation, you can access the Symbols command from the Insert menu. Alternatively, you can insert symbols with keyboard shortcuts. View all available symbols and keyboard shortcuts from the Insert Symbol window. Customize a keyboard shortcut by clicking the "Shortcut Key" button.
  
  

Font Incompatibility

• The font that you use determines which symbols are available to insert into your document. The standard, built-in fonts that load with Microsoft Word 2003 provide the most symbol choices. If you add custom fonts, you may lose symbol accessibility. Change the font on the Symbol window to insert a symbol from a standard font. For example, click the "Font" drop-down box and click "Arial" to insert a symbol based on that standard font.
  
  

Template Error

• Word 2003 provides numerous professionally-created, built-in templates that you can access from the File menu. It also provides user-created templates that you can download from the Microsoft Office website. User-created templates may have problems that affect your symbols commands. Open the template, click the "File" button on the menu and click "Save as." Click the most current file type from the Save as Type drop-down box and rename the document to restore symbol accessibility.
  
  

File Corruption

• If your Word 2003 document file becomes corrupted, you can experience problems with your symbols tools. Fix the problem by creating a new file from your document. Click the "File" button on the menu, "New" and select a new, blank document. Switch to your previous document, highlight all of the text and press "Ctrl" and "C" to copy it. Switch back to the new document and press "Ctrl" and "V" to paste. Save your new document as the most current file type.