How to Add Special Characters in WordPress Posts

Special characters can transform your WordPress content from ordinary to professional.

At WPBeginner, we often use a special character (») in our blog posts to guide readers through specific pages or tabs, like directing them to the Plugins » Installed Plugins page.

This symbol makes instructions clearer and more visually appealing, which improves readability for our users.

We’ve also experimented with different ways of adding copyright symbols ©, trademark ™, registered ®, and other special characters. These methods are simple, reliable, and work perfectly every time you need them.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the proven approaches that will make adding special characters easy.

Why Add Special Characters in WordPress Posts?

Adding special characters to the blog posts on your WordPress website can make your content visually appealing.

It can also help make your content easier to read by drawing the reader’s attention to key points.

For instance, if you use your company’s name in a blog post, adding a trademark character next to it will help highlight your business to readers.

Additionally, using special characters in your headlines and meta descriptions can make your listing stand out in search results. This makes your content more attractive to users. In turn, this can improve your click-through rate (CTR).

Having said that, let’s see how to easily add special characters to your WordPress posts. We will cover three different methods, and you can use the quick links below to jump to the method you want to use:

• Method 1: Add Special Characters Using the WordPress Block Editor
  • Add Special Characters Using the Code Editor
• Method 2: Add Special Characters Using a Plugin
• Method 3: Add Special Characters Using the Classic WordPress Editor
• Bonus: Add Emojis in Your WordPress Blog Posts
• Frequently Asked Questions About Special Characters

Method 1: Add Special Characters Using the WordPress Block Editor

If you are looking for a way to add special characters in the block editor using HTML entities, then this method is for you.

When you write a blog post, WordPress automatically formats it in HTML. It is the markup language used by almost all websites.

HTML entities are special character codes used in web documents to display symbols, arrows, and characters that are reserved or not found on standard keyboard layouts.

For example, if you want to add a trademark ™ symbol, then you can use the HTML entity code ™ to display it.

A wide range of special characters, including Latin letters, mathematical symbols, currency symbols, scientific measurement units, and more, are available as HTML entities.

For the complete reference guide, you may want to check out W3.org’s HTML character entity reference chart.

Add Special Characters Using the Code Editor

You can also add special characters to WordPress posts by switching to the code editor.

This option in the block editor lets users view and edit the underlying HTML, CSS, or JavaScript for different blocks. This makes it easy to add HTML entities.

First, open up a new or existing WordPress post in the block editor.

Once there, click the three-dotted menu at the top right corner of the screen to open up a dropdown menu. From here, click the ‘Code Editor’ option.

This will open up the code editor, where you can easily add the HTML entities between text.

For example, if you want to add a trademark special character next to a product or company name, then you can easily do this by switching to the code editor.

Once you are done, you can save your changes by clicking the ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’ button.

Now, you can visit your WordPress site to see the special characters in your posts.

Method 2: Add Special Characters Using a Plugin

If you frequently need to add special characters in your WordPress posts or pages, using a plugin can save you time and effort compared to looking up HTML entity codes each time.

We use the Insert Special Characters plugin at WPBeginner because it makes inserting symbols quick and effortless, right from the post editor. It’s a simple tool that saves clicks and keeps the writing flow uninterrupted.

First, you need to install and activate the Insert Special Characters plugin. For more details, see our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon activation, open up a post or page in the block editor to add special characters.

Once there, select a paragraph block. You will see a formatting toolbar appear where you must click the omega icon.

From here, simply find the special character you want to add and then click on it to insert it into the editor.

Once you are done, don’t forget to click the ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’ button to save your changes.

Method 3: Add Special Characters Using the Classic WordPress Editor

If you are still using the Classic Editor, then you can use this method to add special characters while writing blog posts.

Keep in mind that the Classic Editor comes with a built-in special characters feature.

First, open a new or existing post in the editor. Next, click on the kitchen sink button.

This will expand the second row of formatting options, where you must click the ‘Special character’ button.

Clicking on it will open a popup window showing some commonly used special characters.

There are currency symbols, mathematical symbols, copyright, registered signs, trademark symbols, and more.

Remember, this method will only work if you are using the old post editor in WYSIWYG mode.

If you are using it in the text editor mode, then you will either need to switch to the Visual editor or use the HTML entities method described above.

From here, you can simply click on the symbol or character you want to use, and it will be added to your post.

Finally, don’t forget to click the ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’ button to save your changes.

Bonus: Add Emojis in Your WordPress Blog Posts

Apart from special characters, you may also want to add emojis to your WordPress blog posts.

Emojis are tiny image icons that can be used with text to express emotions. Inserting these icons can add a splash of personality to your content.

You can easily add emojis in the WordPress block editor using the following keyboard shortcuts:

Operating System	Keyboard Shortcut
Windows	Windows + . (Period)
macOS	Command + Control + Space

Once you press these keys, a native emoji picker will appear on your screen where you can select the emoji you want to use.

For detailed instructions, see our tutorial on how to easily add emojis to your WordPress blog.

Frequently Asked Questions About Special Characters

Here are some questions that our readers have frequently asked about adding different elements to their websites:

How do I add accents in WordPress?

The simplest way to add accents (like é, ñ, or ü) is by using your computer’s native keyboard features. On a Mac, long-press a key to see accent options. On Windows, you can use the built-in Character Map or the Touch Keyboard.

How do I add Unicode in WordPress?

You can add specific Unicode symbols by copying the character from a reference website and pasting it directly into the block editor. Alternatively, if you know the code, you can type the HTML entity (like ♥) inside the Code Editor.

How do I insert an emoji in a WordPress post?

You can insert emojis using your operating system’s native emoji picker. Press Windows + . on a PC or Command + Control + Space on a Mac to open the menu and select your emoji.

How do I type the letters å, ä, ö?

You can type these characters using HTML entities in the Code Editor, such as å for å. If you write in these languages frequently, we recommend changing your keyboard layout settings to support international characters.

How do I add icons to text in WordPress?

You can add icons by using a dedicated plugin like Font Awesome. For simpler needs, you can often use emojis or paste SVG code directly into a Custom HTML block within your content.

We hope this article helped you learn how to add special characters to WordPress posts and pages. You may also want to see our beginner’s guide on how to add underline and justify text buttons in WordPress and our beginner’s guide on how to add a link in WordPress.

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