The question mark symbol (?) is a common punctuation mark used to indicate a question. However, sometimes you may need to actually type the question mark character on a Mac. Knowing how to open and type the question mark on a Mac can be useful for tasks like programming, writing documents, or communicating online.
Using the Standard Mac Keyboard
If you have a standard Mac keyboard, opening the question mark is simple:
- Press Shift + / (forward slash) on your keyboard
This keyboard shortcut will type the ? symbol. The forward slash / and question mark ? keys share the same key on a standard Mac keyboard.
American English Standard Mac Keyboard
On an American English standard Mac keyboard, the ?/ key is located directly under the Delete key and above the Right Shift key.
To recap, to type a question mark, hold down Shift and press the ?/ key.
British English Standard Mac Keyboard
On a British English keyboard, the ?/ key is in the same location – under Delete and above Right Shift.
So again, to type a question mark, press Shift + ?/.
Using a Mac Laptop Keyboard
Mac laptops have slightly different keyboard layouts. But typing the question mark is just as easy.
- Press Shift + ].
The ] key will produce a question mark when Shift is held down.
American English Mac Laptop Keyboard
On a US English Mac laptop keyboard, the ] key is located to the right of the P key, above the Enter/Return key.
To open the question mark, press and hold Shift then press the ] key.
British English Mac Laptop Keyboard
On a British English Mac laptop keyboard, the ] key can be found in the same place – to the right of P and above Enter/Return.
Again, hold Shift and press ] to type a question mark.
Typing Accented Question Marks
In some languages, accented question marks are used. On a Mac, you can type these as well.
Typing ¿ and ¿
In Spanish, the inverted question marks ¿ and ¿ are used to begin and end a question. On a Mac, you can type these inverted question marks by:
- Pressing Option + ? to produce the opening inverted question mark ¿
- Pressing Shift + Option + ? to type the closing inverted question mark ¿
Typing
In Arabic, the symbol is used to indicate a question. On a Mac, you can type this Arabic question mark by:
- Pressing Option + Shift + W
Typing ¿ and ¡
In Armenian, the ¿ and ¡ symbols are used for question marks. On a Mac, type these by:
- Option + Shift + . to type ¿
- Option + Shift + 1 to type ¡
Fixing a Sticky or Broken ?/ Key
If your ?/ key becomes stuck or damaged on your Mac keyboard, you may have trouble typing question marks. Here are some tips to fix a sticky or broken ?/ key:
- Press down firmly on the key a few times to dislodge any debris
- Use compressed air to spray out any particles under the key
- Inspect the key mechanism for damage and remove any obstructions
- Restart your Mac to reset the keyboard
- Set up a keyboard shortcut to type the question mark
- Replace the keyboard if necessary
Setting up a keyboard shortcut can be a temporary workaround until you can get the keyboard replaced.
Enabling the On-Screen Keyboard
If your physical keyboard is not working properly, you can also enable the on-screen keyboard on your Mac to type question marks.
To enable the on-screen keyboard:
- Go to System Preferences > Accessibility
- Check the box for “Show Keyboard Viewer in menu bar”
- This will add a keyboard icon to your menu bar
- Click the keyboard icon to pull up the on-screen keyboard
- Use your mouse or trackpad to click the on-screen ?/ key to type a question mark
The on-screen keyboard allows you to open and type question marks even with a broken physical keyboard.
Conclusion
Typing question marks on a Mac is easy once you know the correct keys. On a standard Mac keyboard, press Shift + ?/ to type a ?. On Mac laptops, hold Shift and press the ] key. You can also type accented question marks by using Option and Shift. If your keyboard develops issues, try cleaning the ?/ key or setting up a keyboard shortcut. Enabling the on-screen keyboard can help too. With these tips, you’ll be able to easily open and type question marks on any Mac.