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 order: :-). The colon becomes the eyes, the hyphen becomes the nose, and the parenthesis becomes the mouth. When you type these three characters together, they form a sideways face that looks happy.
You can also skip the hyphen and type :) — just a colon and closing parenthesis. This version is faster and works just as well. Both versions appear the same way in most text messages, emails, and online chat.
The reason these work is that your brain reads them sideways. When you tilt your head to the left (or imagine tilting it), the colon looks like two eyes stacked vertically, and the parenthesis curves like a smiling mouth.
Key Takeaways
- Type a colon and closing parenthesis :) to make a basic smiley face that works everywhere.
- Add a hyphen in the middle :-) for a smiley with a nose, though the shorter version is more common.
- Different emoticons use different punctuation marks — a capital D makes a laughing face :D, and a P makes a playful face :P.
- These keyboard emoticons work in emails, text messages, social media, and any program where you can type regular text.
- Modern phones and computers often convert emoticons into colorful emoji automatically, though the text version always works.
Other common emoticons you can type
Once you know the basic pattern, you can make many different faces by changing the mouth character. A capital D instead of a parenthesis makes a laughing face: :D. The letter P makes a playful or teasing face: :P. A forward slash makes a skeptical or uncertain face: :/.
You can also change the eyes. A semicolon instead of a colon makes a winking face: ;). This looks like one eye is closed. A number 8 instead of a colon makes a face with big eyes: 8). An X instead of a colon makes a dead or knocked-out face: X).
Sad faces work the same way — just flip the parenthesis upside down. A colon and opening parenthesis makes a sad face: :(. A colon and opening bracket makes a very sad face: :[. A colon and the letter c makes a sad face that looks more like a real mouth: :c.
How to type emoticons on a phone keyboard
On a smartphone, you type emoticons the same way as on a computer — using the regular text keyboard. Find the colon by holding down the period key on most phones, or by tapping the numbers and symbols button to see punctuation marks. Once you have the colon, add the other characters and your emoticon appears.
Many phones will offer to convert your emoticon into an emoji (a colorful picture) as soon as you finish typing it. You can accept the emoji by tapping it, or ignore the suggestion and keep the text emoticon. Both versions send the same message — the emoji is just a fancier-looking version of the same thing.
If you use your phone's emoji keyboard instead, you can search for smiley faces directly. Tap the emoji button (usually a smiley face icon), then search for "smile" or "happy" to see dozens of colorful emoji options. These are easier to find than typing emoticons, but emoticons work everywhere that text does.
Where emoticons work and where they don't
Emoticons work in any program where you can type regular text — email, text messages, social media posts, online forums, chat applications, and word processors. They are just three or four keyboard characters, so they do not require any special software or settings.
Some programs automatically convert emoticons into emoji. Gmail, Facebook, and most messaging apps will turn :) into a colorful smiley picture. Other programs like Slack and Discord do the same thing. If you want to keep the text version instead of the emoji, check the program's settings — most have an option to turn off automatic conversion.
A few older or very formal programs do not recognize emoticons at all and will just display the characters as you typed them. This is rare, but if someone does not see your emoticon as a face, they are probably using an older email system or a program that does not support them.
Common emoticon combinations and what they mean
| Emoticon | What it looks like | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| :) | Happy face | Happy, friendly, or joking |
| :D | Big grin | Very happy or laughing |
| ;) | Winking face | Joking, flirting, or being playful |
| :P | Tongue sticking out | Teasing, playful, or silly |
| :( | Sad face | Sad, disappointed, or upset |
| :/ | Skeptical face | Unsure, confused, or doubtful |
| :O | Surprised face | Shocked, amazed, or astonished |
| XD | Laughing with eyes closed | Laughing very hard |
Why emoticons still matter even with emoji
Emoji are colorful and fun, but emoticons made from keyboard characters have stayed popular for good reasons. They work on every device and in every program — even very old computers or basic text systems can display them. If you send an emoticon to someone with an old phone or a work email account, they will always see it correctly.
Emoticons are also faster to type if you are already writing. Your fingers stay on the keyboard, and you do not have to switch to an emoji menu. Many people still use emoticons in professional emails or formal messages where emoji might seem too casual.
Some people prefer emoticons because they feel more personal — they show you took a moment to type out a face rather than just picking a picture. In online communities and forums where people have been typing emoticons for years, they remain the standard way to show emotion in text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make emoticons with numbers and letters instead of punctuation?
Yes. Emoticons like XD (laughing with eyes closed) and ^_^ (happy face) use letters and symbols instead of just punctuation. These work the same way — type the characters and they form a sideways face. Some emoticons are more creative, like T_T for crying or >:) for an angry face.
What is the difference between emoticons and emoji?
Emoticons are made from keyboard characters like colons and parentheses — they are text. Emoji are colorful pictures that your phone or computer displays instead. When you type :), your device may automatically show a yellow smiley picture, but the emoticon itself is just the three typed characters.
Do emoticons work in all text messages?
Yes, emoticons work in any text message because they are just regular keyboard characters. Your phone will not block them, and the person receiving your message will see them. Some phones automatically convert them to emoji, but the emoticon always sends correctly.
How do I turn off automatic emoji conversion?
This depends on your device and program. On most phones, go to Settings, then Keyboard or Text, and look for an option about emoji or autocorrect. On computers, check the program's preferences or settings menu. Gmail and Facebook have settings to turn off emoji conversion in their account settings.
Are emoticons considered unprofessional?
In very formal business emails, emoticons can seem casual. However, in most modern workplaces, a straightforward :) at the end of a friendly message is acceptable and helps show tone in text. Use your judgment based on your workplace culture — if your coworkers use them, it is fine to do the same.