How can I type a degree symbol on a Mac?

Mac
1

I’m trying to insert a degree symbol into a document on my Mac, but I’ve had no luck. I’ve tried using the character viewer and several keyboard shortcuts without success. Can anyone explain the correct way to do this or offer a solution? Thanks!

2

Hey there, typing the degree symbol on a Mac can be a bit tricky if you’re not familiar with the process, but it’s actually pretty simple once you know the correct steps. Here’s how you can do it without pulling your hair out:

  1. Keyboard Shortcut: This is the quickest way if you know the right combination. For a standard degree symbol (°), you can use:

    • Option + Shift + 8: Hold down the Option (⌥) key and the Shift key, then press 8. This should get you the degree symbol.

  2. Character Viewer: If the shortcut method doesn’t work for some reason, you can use the Character Viewer.

    • Go to the ‘Edit’ menu in most applications and select ‘Emoji & Symbols’ or press Control + Command + Spacebar to bring up the Character Viewer.
    • In the Character Viewer, search for “degree” in the search box to find the degree symbol. You can double-click it to insert it into your document.

  3. Text Replacement: Another method, especially if you need to use the degree symbol a lot, is to set up a text replacement.

    • Open System Preferences > Keyboard > Text.
    • Click the ‘+’ button to add a new replacement.
    • In the Replace column, type what you want to use as a shortcut (e.g., deg).
    • In the With column, type or paste the degree symbol (you can copy it from this post: °).
    • Now, anytime you type your shortcut text, it will automatically be replaced with the degree symbol.

As a quick tip, make sure your keyboard layout is set to U.S. or similar because some keyboard shortcuts can differ depending on your layout.

Sometimes these shortcuts don’t work in all applications due to how the app handles keyboard inputs. I’ve seen some specific software where these shortcuts get overridden by other functions. When that happens, the character viewer usually saves the day.

Give these methods a try and hopefully, you’ll have that degree symbol in no time. Good luck!

3

Actually, @codecrafter has shared some very useful methods for typing the degree symbol on a Mac, but let me throw in a couple of alternatives that might come in handy, especially if you want to avoid switching between shortcuts all the time.

Using Unicode Input:

If you frequently work with various symbols and special characters, another efficient way is to enable Unicode Hex Input. Here’s how you set it up:

  1. Enable Unicode Hex Input:

    • Go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Input Sources.
    • Click the ‘+’ button to add a new input source and choose ‘Unicode Hex Input’.

  2. Using Unicode Hex Input:

    • Switch your keyboard input to ‘Unicode Hex Input’ (you can do this from the menu bar once it is added).
    • Now, hold down the Option key and type the Unicode for the degree symbol which is 00B0. Therefore, you will press Option + 00B0.

Automator Workflow:

For those who love a bit of DIY and want a customized solution, Automator can be a great tool. Here’s how you can set it up to insert a degree symbol with a simple key combination or script:

  1. Open Automator:

    • Go to your Applications folder, and open Automator.

  2. Create a New Service:

    • Choose ‘New Document’, then ‘Service’.

  3. Set Up Service:

    • In the panel that says ‘Service receives selected’, choose ‘text’ in ‘any application’.

  4. Add Action:

    • Add the action ‘Run AppleScript’ from the library to the workflow.

  5. Insert Script:

    • Write an AppleScript to insert the degree symbol:
      on run {input, parameters}
   tell application "System Events"
         keystroke "°"
     end tell
   return input
 end run

  6. Save the Service:

    • Save the service with a name like ‘Insert Degree Symbol’.

  7. Assign a Keyboard Shortcut:

    • Go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts.
    • Select Services in the left column.
    • Find Insert Degree Symbol and add your preferred keyboard shortcut.

Using Third-Party Apps:

Sometimes the native methods might not cover everything you need. That’s where third-party apps like PopChar X can be a lifesaver. PopChar X is a more advanced character map tool that’ll let you find and insert all manner of symbols easily by just clicking on them. It also offers a large range of options for different character sets if you’re working with more than just the degree symbol.

Dictation:

Don’t overlook the built-in dictation capabilities in macOS. Although it’s an unusual trick, you can enable dictation by:

  1. Going to System Preferences > Keyboard > Dictation, enabling dictation if it’s off.
  2. When you’re in your document, tap twice on the Fn key to start dictation.
  3. Simply say “degree symbol” or “degree” and it should insert the symbol if correctly recognized.

AppleScript and Terminal:

If you’re comfortable with scripting, another advanced method is using AppleScript with Terminal commands to quickly type the degree symbol. Here’s a quick example:

  1. Open Script Editor and create a new script.
  2. Insert:
    tell application "System Events"
  keystroke "°"
end tell
  3. Run the script whenever you need the degree symbol.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, there are multiple ways you can get the degree symbol into your documents on a Mac. While @codecrafter’s methods are comprehensive and straightforward, the additional methods like Unicode Input, Automator workflows, third-party tools like PopChar X, dictation, and AppleScript/Terminal can offer more flexibility or be more suitable depending on your specific needs and preferences.

Don’t feel too tied down by one method; sometimes trying out a few options helps you find which one fits best into your workflow. Good luck, and happy typing!

4

Why bother with all that complicated nonsense? Just copy and paste the degree symbol! Anytime you need it, just type “degree symbol” into a search engine, copy the symbol (°), and paste it right into your document. No shortcuts to remember, no fiddling with system preferences, just a quick copy-paste. It’s not like it’s something you need to use every five seconds, right? Or, you could use automated text expansion tools like TextExpander, but honestly, even that seems like overkill. Sometimes simplicity is best.