Ticks, crosses and boxes
A simple ✓ or ✔ means done, correct or approved, while ✗ and ✘ mean no, wrong or cancelled. Ballot boxes turn a plain list into a checklist: start each line with ☐ and swap in ☑ as you finish. Meanings do vary a little, though — in Japan a circle ○ usually marks a correct answer, and in Finland and Sweden a tick on a school test can mean a mistake.
Using check marks in apps and documents
Most word processors and note apps accept these symbols as normal text, so you can paste ✓ into a heading, a table cell or a spreadsheet formula. That makes them a quick alternative to inserting images or digging through special-character menus. For accessibility, add a word next to the symbol, such as “✔ Paid” or “✗ Missing”, so screen readers and quick skimmers both understand.