How to Make a Degree Symbol: Tips and Tricks

I. Introduction

A degree symbol is a tiny, but essential character that indicates the degree of measurement for angles or temperature. It is commonly used in academic writing, scientific research, digital design, and many more fields that involve numbers and units of measurement. Not knowing how to produce a degree symbol can become a frustration, and in worse scenarios, can affect the credibility and clarity of one’s content.

This article aims to provide different methods and techniques on how to make a degree symbol on a PC or Mac, in different applications, and for different purposes.

II. Shortcut Key Combinations

Shortcut key combinations are one of the quickest and easiest ways to make a degree symbol in any document, email, or chat. Here are the steps for each operating system:

Windows

To make a degree symbol on Windows:

• Hold down the ALT key and then type 0176 using the numeric keypad.
• Release the ALT key, and the degree symbol will appear.

Alternatively, users can also use the shortcut keys + (Shift + =) to create the degree symbol in Microsoft Word and other applications that support this feature.

macOS

To make a degree symbol on macOS:

• Hold down the Option key and then press the number 0 (zero) key.
• The degree symbol will appear.

For applications like Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, users can also use the shortcut key combination + SHIFT + 8.

iOS

To make a degree symbol on iOS:

• Tap and hold the 0 (zero) key on the keyboard
• The degree symbol will appear as an option to select

III. Insert Symbol Function in Word Processors

If you prefer to use a word processor to create your documents, then using the Insert Symbol function in Microsoft Word or Google Docs is a quick and convenient option. Here’s how to use it:

Microsoft Word

To make a degree symbol in Microsoft Word:

• Click on the Insert tab on the menu bar.
• Select Symbol and then choose More Symbols.
• In the Symbol window, select the font you want to use and then scroll down to locate the degree symbol.
• Click Insert to add the symbol to your document.

Google Docs

Here’s how to make a degree symbol in Google Docs:

• Click on the Insert tab on the menu bar.
• Select Special Characters and scroll down to locate the degree symbol.
• Click on the symbol to add it to your document

IV. Alt Code and Option Key

If you don’t have a numeric keypad on your computer, you can use the Alt code or Option key function to make a degree symbol. Here are the steps:

Windows

Here’s how to make a degree symbol using the Alt code on Windows:

• Hold down the ALT key and type 248 on the numeric keypad.
• The degree symbol will appear once you release the ALT key.

macOS

Here’s how to make a degree symbol using the Option key on macOS:

• Hold down the Option key and then press the zero (0) key twice.
• The degree symbol will appear once you release the Option key.

Note that for macOS versions that use the US Extended Keyboard, the degree symbol can be made by simply holding the Option key and pressing the Shift + 8 keys.

V. Useful Unicode Codes

If you are working with programming languages or using HTML, Unicode codes can be useful when trying to make a degree symbol. Here are the codes for the degree symbol in Unicode:

• ℃ – Celsius degree symbol
• ℉ – Fahrenheit degree symbol
• ° – Degree symbol
• °C – Celsius degree symbol with text
• °F – Fahrenheit degree symbol with text

VI. Step-by-Step Guide for Common Applications

In this section, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to make a degree symbol in different applications:

Excel

Here’s how to make a degree symbol in Microsoft Excel:

• Click on the cell where you want to add the degree symbol.
• Press the ALT button and type 0176 on the numeric keypad to create the degree symbol.
• Alternatively, you can copy and paste the degree symbol from another source.

PowerPoint

To make a degree symbol in Microsoft PowerPoint:

• In the text box, click on the location where you want to add the degree symbol.
• Press ALT + 0176 on the numeric keypad to make the degree symbol. If you don’t have a numeric keypad, use the ALT code function explained earlier.
• You can also copy and paste the degree symbol into a PowerPoint slide by selecting it from another source.

Photoshop

To create a degree symbol in Adobe Photoshop:

• Select the text tool and click on the location where you want to insert the degree symbol.
• Press the ALT key and type 0176 on the numeric keypad. The degree symbol will appear in your text box.

VII. Online Resources

For those who need to use the degree symbol frequently, there are many options available to copy and paste the symbol directly. Here are some online resources:

• Copy and Paste Emoji – a website with a collection of symbols and emojis to copy and paste.
• SymbolsPY – a website with a wide range of symbols to copy and paste
• Alt-Codes – a website with a list of the Alt codes for making symbols like the degree symbol.

VIII. Writing Temperature Units

Apart from indicating angles, the degree symbol is also used to indicate temperature units. For Celsius, the symbol is °C, while for Fahrenheit, it is °F. Here are some ways to write temperature units:

• The temperature in London is 21°C (70°F).
• During the summer, the average temperature in New York City ranges between 25°C and 32°C (77°F to 90°F)
• The recommended temperature setting for storing wine is between 12°C and 15°C (54°F to 59°F).

IX. Conclusion

The degree symbol may be small, but it is an essential component of many documents and content. Knowing how to make a degree symbol using different methods can help enhance one’s work and prevent confusion or misunderstanding. Remember that the degree symbol can be made using shortcut keys, character mapping, Alt codes, or online resources. Practice using these techniques in various applications and start integrating them into your work.