The interrobang ‽ has no Windows Alt code, so copy it or type 203D then Alt+X in Word. It combines a question mark and an exclamation mark into one glyph for a question asked in surprise. Martin Speckter invented it in 1962 for advertising copy.
01 All shortcuts at a glance
| Platform | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Windows (any app) | Win+. or Win+; emoji/symbol picker, or Character Map (Win+R → charmap) |
|
| Mac | Control+Command+Space to open Character Viewer, search "Interrobang" |
|
| Word / Outlook | Type 203D, then press Alt+X |
|
| Linux (IBus) | Ctrl+Shift+U, then 203d, then Enter |
|
| HTML / CSS | ‽ · \203d (CSS) |
02 Step by step, per platform
A real, followable procedure for every platform, not a thin restatement of the shortcut.
Windows
- Open Character Map: Win+R, type charmap, press Enter.
- Search or scroll for Interrobang (U+203D).
- Select it, click Copy, then paste where you need it.
Mac
- Press Control+Command+Space to open the Character Viewer.
- Type "Interrobang" in the search field.
- Double-click the result to insert it.
Microsoft Word
- Type 203D.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| ?! | Two separate characters | The everyday form, and the safer one where fonts are unpredictable. |
| ⁉ (U+2049) | Exclamation question mark, a compatibility character | A CJK presentation form. Many systems render it as an emoji. |
| An empty box | A missing glyph in the current font | Font coverage is patchy. Test it before using it in anything that matters. |
05 FAQ
What is the Unicode code point for the interrobang?
It is U+203D, decimal 8253. There is no Windows Alt code for it.
Is the interrobang real punctuation?
It is a genuine Unicode character with a documented history, but no major style guide accepts it in formal writing. Treat it as informal.
Who invented it?
Martin Speckter, an American advertising executive, proposed it in 1962 in the magazine TYPEtalks. The name joins interrogatio and bang, the printer's slang for an exclamation mark.
Should I write ?! or !? instead?
Either is fine informally, and both are far more widely understood. Most style guides would ask you to rewrite the sentence rather than stack punctuation at all.
Is there an upside-down version?
Yes, the inverted interrobang at U+2E18, sometimes called a gnaborretni. Spanish-style punctuation would open a sentence with it, though this is rare in practice.