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How to Make a Degree Symbol

1/23/2014

The degree symbol - º - is easy to add to your typed or online work. Since it's standard for much written work, from recipes and mathematics, to the weather, it's a handy symbol to know how to make.



Edit Steps



Microsoft Office Products


Note that the method used will depend on the Microsoft Office product being used.



  1. Use the Symbols command. This command works with Excel, FrontPage, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, Word and Visio.

    • Go to the Insert menu.



    • Click on Symbol.



    • Scroll down to the degree symbol - º - and double click on it. It will insert itself where you had the cursor pointing.





  2. Use the Windows Character Map tool.




    • If you're using Microsoft Windows XP: Go to Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, then Character Map.

    • If you're using Microsoft Windows 2000, go to Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Character Map.

    • Scroll until you find the degree symbol. Click select and copy. Then click Paste wherever you wish to insert it.





  3. Insert the degree symbol using a character code on the keyboard. This method will work for Excel, FrontPage, InfoPath, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Project, Publisher, Word and Visio.

    • Press the NUM LOCK key on where the keyboard requires this.



    • Press and hold ALT while typing 0176 on the numeric keypad. This will only work when using the numeric keypad.





  4. Use the AutoCorrect to insert the degree symbol. This method works with Word 2002 onward. It's a predefined AutoCorrect shortcut to get the degree symbol in quickly.

    • Press CTRL+@, then press the space bar. The symbol should appear.



    • If your Word doesn't permit this, you can still AutoCorrect to define the degree symbol according to your preferences:

    • Go to the Insert menu.



    • Click Symbol then the Symbols tab.



    • Select the degree symbol.



    • Click AutoCorrect.

    • You'll see the degree symbol in the With box.

    • Type your word associated with the degree symbol in the Replace box. An easy one is "degreesym".

    • Click Add, then OK.

    • Use the associated word in Word when writing and the degree symbol will appear.





Mac



  1. Use the keyboard. Simply tap the Option key and the zero (0) key. The symbol will appear in your text - º -. Done.



  2. Use the relevant Microsoft Office product methods. See above for using the different methods when using Word and related Microsoft Office products (apart from the character code method). In many cases, the keyboard shortcut in the previous still will do the same thing, even within these products, so try it first.



Gmail and Other Online Based Mail Programs



  1. Press the Num Lock key. Use the ALT key and the numeric keypad code and type in the extended ASCII code, 248.



  2. Use the Insert Symbol feature described above under "Microsoft Office Products". Simply copy and paste.



  3. Use the Character Map.

    • For Windows XP: Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Character Map.



    • Click on the degree symbol, Select, Copy.



    • Go back to Gmail or other mail program, hold down the CTRL key + V and it will paste into your email.





  4. For Mac users: Simply use the same keyboard method outlined above. Press Option plus zero (O) at the place you want the degree symbol to appear in the email and it should appear. Note that your type of browser may affect this ability.





Edit Tips



  • If for any unknown reason the degree symbol won't insert into an online or email document, or any other document, try cutting and pasting from another source, such as Word or Text Edit. This can often work around a more complicated method that won't do what you hope it will!

  • Usage of the degree symbol as opposed to spelling out the word "degrees" along with Celsius or Fahrenheit is impacted by your in-house style guide. Some publishers prefer the words to be written out, perhaps a vestige of the past when few people knew how to make the symbol. On the other hand, many publishers prefer the symbol. It pays to read the in-house style guide to find out what your college, workplace or other organization prefers.



Edit Warnings



  • The method of adding a degree symbol may change with changes in programming of Office suite products or with upgrades to HTML5. If you do notice inconsistencies or inaccuracy in this article as a result, it would be helpful if you could take a moment and add the new correct method.



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