How To Make Emoticons With Your Keyboard

#socialmedia #emoji #tutorial #marketing

Look, I'm not gonna bore you with a 300-word intro about how some guy named Scott invented the smiley face emoticon in 1982. If you're here for a history lesson, hard pass. If you're here to type =) or a ;-P in under a minute, keep scrolling

How To Make Emoticons With Your Keyboard

Quick Orientation

Most faces are sideways. Eyes on the left, mouth on the right: :-).

That's it. You tilt your head, or you don't. Either way, you'll get it in three seconds.

Oh, and you can drop the nose if you're texting fast: :). Same vibe, less effort.

Eyes (the left side)

Use : for normal eyes. Example: :-).
Use ; for a wink. Example: ;-).
Use = for flat, unimpressed eyes. Example: =-).
Use 8 for goggles or round glasses. Use B for thick-frame glasses. Examples: 8-), B-).
Use X or x for squeezed-shut eyes. Examples: X-), x-).
Use * for sparkly eyes if you're feeling dramatic. Example: *-).

That's basically it. You've got happy, skeptical, blind, and extra.

Noses (the middle, if you bother)

Use - for a standard nose. Example: :-D.
Use ~ for a sneezy or wiggly nose. Example: :~).
Use ^ for a pointy anime nose. Example: :^P.
Or just skip it when you're in a hurry. Example: :P.

Honestly, the nose is optional. It's like the Oxford comma of emoticons - some people care, most don't.

Mouths (the right side)

Use ) to smile and ( to frown. Examples: :), :(.
Use D for a huge grin. Example: :D.
Use P for tongue out. Example: :P. (This one is chaos. Use responsibly.)
Use 3 for a cute cat mouth. Example: :3.
Use S or s for uneasy or confused. Example: :S.
Use / or ** for "I don't know, man." Examples: :/, :.
Use | for total deadpan. Example: :|.
Use o, O, or 0 for shock. Examples: :o, :O, :0.
Use * for a kiss. Example: :*.
Use ] for a smirk and [ for a grim look. Examples: :], :[

Why are you still reading this? Just try one.

No, seriously. Open a text. Type :-) and send it to someone. You're done. You've learned emoticons.

But if you want to get fancy and I know you do - keep going.

Add-ons (the fun stuff)

Use ' for a tear or nervous sweat. Examples: :'(, 8'-0.
Use > before the eyes for angry eyebrows or spiky hair. Examples: >:), >:(.
Use O before the whole face for a halo. Example: O:-).
Use { after the nose for a mustache. Example: :-{).
Use } after the mouth for a beard. Example: :-)}.
Use c after the mouth for a chin. Example: :-)c. (Yes, a chin. I don't know either.)
Use _ after the mouth for a flat jaw. Example: :-)_.
Use ^ before the eyes for raised brows. Example: ^:-/.
Use # after the mouth for braces. Example: :-)#.