The dagger † is Alt+0134 on Windows and Option+T on a Mac. It is the second footnote marker after the asterisk, with the double dagger ‡ third. In genealogy and obituaries it also marks a date of death.
01 All shortcuts at a glance
| Platform | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Windows (Alt code) | Hold Alt, type 0134 on the numpad |
|
| Windows (any app) | Win+. or Win+; emoji/symbol picker, or Character Map (Win+R → charmap) |
|
| Mac | Control+Command+Space to open Character Viewer, search "Dagger" |
|
| Word / Outlook | Type 2020, then press Alt+X |
|
| Linux (IBus) | Ctrl+Shift+U, then 2020, then Enter |
|
| HTML / CSS | † · \2020 (CSS) |
02 Step by step, per platform
A real, followable procedure for every platform, not a thin restatement of the shortcut.
Windows
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold Alt and type 0134 on the numeric keypad.
- Release Alt, † appears.
Mac
- Press Control+Command+Space to open the Character Viewer.
- Type "Dagger" in the search field.
- Double-click the result to insert it.
Microsoft Word
- Type 2020.
- Press Alt+X immediately after, it converts the hex code to †.
03 Characters in this set
04 Troubleshooting & confusables
| Looks like it | But it's actually | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ‡ (U+2021) | Double dagger, with two crossbars | The third footnote marker in the traditional order. Alt+0135 on Windows. |
| ✝ (U+271D) | Latin cross, a religious symbol | A dingbat cross. It is not a footnote marker and is drawn much heavier. |
| t | A lowercase letter | A poor substitute in plain text. Use a numbered footnote instead where † is unavailable. |
05 FAQ
What is the Unicode code point for the dagger?
It is U+2020, decimal 8224. Alt+0134 works because it is also in the Windows-1252 code page.
What is the traditional order of footnote symbols?
Asterisk, dagger, double dagger, section sign, parallel, then pilcrow. After that the sequence doubles up, starting with two asterisks.
What does † mean beside a name?
In genealogy and obituaries it marks the date of death, paired with an asterisk or a b. for birth. In academic papers it often flags a deceased author or a shared first authorship.
What is the difference between † and ‡?
The double dagger has two crossbars and comes next in the footnote order. Beyond that ordering they carry no separate meaning.
Why is it called an obelisk?
The older name comes from the ancient editorial mark used to flag a passage a scholar considered doubtful or spurious. The footnote use grew out of that habit of marking text for comment.