How to Type the Degree Symbol

Using Keyboard Shortcuts on Windows and Mac

One of the quickest ways to type the degree symbol is by using keyboard shortcuts. Here’s how to do it on both Windows and Mac:

On Windows:

• Hold down the Alt key
• Type 0176 on the numeric keypad
• Release the Alt key

On Mac:

• Hold down the Option key
• Type the letter “o”
• Release both keys

Once you’ve typed the degree symbol using these shortcuts, it will appear wherever your cursor is located. This method works in most text editors and word processing applications, including Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and Notepad.

Using the Character Map on Windows

If your keyboard doesn’t have a numeric keypad, or you find it difficult to remember keyboard shortcuts, you can use the Character Map on Windows to insert the degree symbol. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Start menu and search for “Character Map”
2. Open the Character Map application
3. Select the “Advanced view” option
4. In the “Search for” box, type “degree”
5. Click on the degree symbol in the list of search results
6. Click the “Select” button, then click “Copy”
7. Go to the document where you want to insert the degree symbol, and press Ctrl + V to paste it in.

The Character Map can also be used to insert other special characters and symbols that are not easily accessible on your keyboard.

Using AutoCorrect on Microsoft Word

If you frequently need to type the degree symbol in Microsoft Word, you can set up an AutoCorrect rule to automatically replace a text string with the degree symbol. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open a new or existing Word document
2. Type the text string you want to use as a shortcut for the degree symbol (e.g. “deg”)
3. Highlight the text string, then go to the “File” menu and select “Options”
4. In the Word Options dialog box, select “Proofing” from the left-hand menu
5. Click on the “AutoCorrect Options” button
6. In the AutoCorrect dialog box, type the text string you want to replace in the “Replace” box (e.g. “deg”)
7. In the “With” box, type the degree symbol (you can use the keyboard shortcut or Character Map method described above to insert it)
8. Click “Add”, then click “OK” to close the AutoCorrect dialog box
9. Click “OK” to close the Word Options dialog box

Now, whenever you type the text string you set up (e.g. “deg”) in a Word document, it will automatically be replaced with the degree symbol. This can save time and effort when typing documents that require frequent use of special characters.

Using Unicode Hex Input on Mac

If you’re comfortable using keyboard shortcuts and want to access a wider range of special characters, you can use Unicode Hex Input on a Mac to type the degree symbol. Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to the document or application where you want to insert the degree symbol
2. Press and hold the Option key
3. Type “00B0” (that’s the Unicode value for the degree symbol) on the numeric keypad
4. Release the Option key

The degree symbol should now appear wherever your cursor is located. This method can be used to type other Unicode characters as well, as long as you know their hex values. To access a list of hex values for commonly-used special characters on a Mac, go to the “Keyboard” section of the System Preferences and select the “Input Sources” tab. Then, click the “Show Input Menu in Menu Bar” option and select “Unicode Hex Input” from the menu bar icon. This will allow you to access a chart of Unicode values for special characters.

Using Special Characters Menu on Mobile Devices

If you need to type the degree symbol on a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet, you can use the special characters menu. Here’s how to do it on an iPhone or iPad:

1. Go to the document or application where you want to insert the degree symbol
2. Tap and hold on the “0” key on the keyboard
3. A pop-up menu will appear with a selection of special characters
4. Swipe your finger across the menu to find the degree symbol (it may be on a different page)
5. Tap on the degree symbol to insert it into your document

On an Android device, the process may be slightly different depending on the type of keyboard you’re using. In general, you can access the special characters menu by pressing and holding on the key that corresponds to the character you want to insert (in this case, the “0” key for the degree symbol). From there, you should be able to select the degree symbol from the list of available special characters.