The quickest way to make a smiley face
A smiley face on your keyboard is made by typing a colon, a hyphen, and a closing parenthesis in that exact order: :-). When you type these three characters together, they form a sideways face that looks happy. You can type this combination anywhere you can type text — in an email, a chat message, a document, or a social media post.
The character works because your brain reads the colon as two eyes, the hyphen as a nose, and the parenthesis as a smiling mouth. It takes less than a second to type and requires no special keys or software. Most people will understand what you mean when ready, even though it is a very straightforward design.
Key Takeaways
- Type colon-hyphen-parenthesis (:-)) to make the most common smiley face, and it works in any text field on your computer.
- A colon-hyphen-P (:-P) makes a tongue-out face, and colon-hyphen-( (:-() makes a sad face using the same method.
- Many chat programs and email clients automatically convert these typed faces into small picture icons, so your :-) may turn into a colorful emoji without you doing anything.
- The smiley face was invented in 1982 by Scott Fahlman, a computer scientist who used it to mark jokes in online messages so people would not take them seriously.
Where you can type a smiley face
You can type a smiley face anywhere your keyboard input appears as text. This includes email messages, text messages, when ready messaging apps like Slack or Discord, social media comments and posts, online forums, word processors, and even search boxes. The three characters work the same way in every location.
Some platforms automatically convert your typed smiley into a picture emoji. For example, if you type :-) in Gmail, Facebook, or Microsoft Teams, the program may replace it with a small yellow smiley face icon. Other platforms leave it as the three typed characters. Either way, the meaning is the same — you are expressing happiness or friendliness.
Other common keyboard faces and what they mean
Once you know the basic pattern, you can make other faces by changing the last character. A colon followed by a hyphen and an open parenthesis makes a sad face: :-(. A colon, hyphen, and the letter P makes a face sticking its tongue out: :-P. A colon and a hyphen followed by a forward slash makes a skeptical or uncertain face: :-/.
You can also skip the hyphen entirely. A colon and a closing parenthesis :) works just as well as :-) and is slightly faster to type. Similarly, :( is a sad face without the nose. Many people use the shorter versions because they are quicker, though both styles mean the same thing.
| Face | What it looks like | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| :-) | Smiling face with nose | Happy, friendly, joking |
| :) | Smiling face without nose | Happy, friendly, joking |
| :-P | Face with tongue out | Playful, teasing, silly |
| :-/ | Skeptical face | Uncertain, confused, doubtful |
| :-( | Sad face | Unhappy, disappointed, upset |
| :-D | Big grin | Very happy, laughing |
Why keyboard faces are still useful even with emojis
Modern computers and phones have emoji — colorful picture faces that you can insert by clicking an emoji button or typing a code. You might wonder why anyone still types :-) when they could use a bright yellow smiley emoji instead. The answer is speed and simplicity. Typing three characters takes one second. Finding and clicking an emoji takes longer and requires navigating a menu.
Keyboard faces also work everywhere. Some older systems, plain-text emails, and certain professional platforms do not display emojis correctly, but they will always show :-) as three characters. In formal writing or professional messages, a typed smiley can feel less casual than a colorful emoji. Many people still prefer them for these reasons.
Common mistakes when typing a smiley face
The most common mistake is reversing the order of the characters. Typing ):-( or )-: will not create a smiley face — it will just look like random characters. The order must always be colon first, then hyphen, then parenthesis. If your face does not look right, check that you typed the characters in the correct sequence.
Another mistake is using the wrong parenthesis. A closing parenthesis ) makes a smile, but an opening parenthesis ( makes a frown. If you type :-( instead of :-), you have made a sad face by accident. Pay attention to which direction the parenthesis curves. The curved side should face left, like a smile curving upward.
Some people add extra characters thinking it will improve the face. Typing something like :--) or :-)) will not work better — it will just look odd. Stick to the basic three-character pattern for the clearest result.
How to type special characters if your keyboard layout is different
If you use a keyboard with a non-English layout, the location of the colon, hyphen, and parenthesis keys may be different from a standard English keyboard. The characters themselves are the same, but you may need to look at your keyboard to find where they are. On most keyboards, the colon is on the same key as the semicolon (usually Shift + ;), the hyphen is on the key to the right of the 0, and the parenthesis is on the same key as the number 9 (usually Shift + 9).
If you are unsure where these keys are on your specific keyboard, you can look at the labels printed on each key. The character you need is usually printed on the key itself. Once you locate all three keys, you can type them in order just as you would on an English keyboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a smiley face on a phone keyboard?
Yes. On a phone, find the colon key (usually by pressing and holding the semicolon key or accessing the symbols keyboard), then type the hyphen and closing parenthesis. Many phones automatically suggest an emoji when you type :-), but you can ignore the suggestion and keep the typed version if you prefer.
What if my smiley face turns into an emoji automatically?
This happens because your email or messaging program is set to convert typed faces into picture emojis. This is normal and intentional — the program is trying to make your message look nicer. If you want to keep the typed version instead, look for a settings option to turn off emoji conversion, though most people find the emoji version works just fine.
Is there a smiley face for winking?
Yes. A colon, hyphen, and semicolon makes a winking face: ;-). The semicolon replaces the closing parenthesis and looks like one eye closed. You can also type ;) without the hyphen for a faster version.
Do people still use keyboard faces, or is that outdated?
Keyboard faces are still common, especially in professional emails and plain-text messages where emojis may not display well. Many people use them alongside emojis. They are not outdated — they are just one option among several ways to show tone in written text.
What keyboard combination makes a surprised face?
A colon and hyphen followed by the letter O makes a surprised face: :-O. The O represents an open mouth. You can also type :O without the hyphen for the same effect.