Inserting Symbols

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 31, 2019)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


2

In some ways, Excel seems like a "poor relative" to Word. (Just in some ways, mind you.) One such way is evident when you want to insert a symbol into a cell. In Word, you can easily insert a symbol by choosing Symbol from the Insert menu. In Excel, there is no such comparable menu option.

So how do you get special symbols into Excel? One way, of course, is to switch over to Word and insert the symbol in the document. You can then copy the character and paste it into Excel. There is a better way, however, even though it is somewhat related. This involves using the old tried-and-true method of using the Character Map accessory in Windows itself. Simply start the accessory by choosing Programs from the Start menu, then choosing Accessories, and finally choosing Character Map. In the resulting dialog box, you can pick any font and character installed on your system.

When you double-click on a symbol, or select a symbol and click on Select, the symbol is copied to the area at the top-right of the dialog box. When you later click on Copy, all the information in the box is copied to the Clipboard. At this point it is a simple process to return to Excel and paste the contents of the Clipboard (the symbols) to your worksheet.

What makes using the Character Map better than using Word in the long run is that the Character Map also shows the keystroke necessary to reproduce the character. (It is at the bottom-right corner of my version of Character Map.) These keystrokes will work in any Windows program. Some of them require holding down the Alt key as you enter a code on the numeric keypad. Others simply require typing a letter. In any case, you will need to make sure that the character you enter in this way is formatted using the typeface shown in the Character Map.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2046) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Tracked Changes Won't Go Away

Track Changes is a great tool when editing a document, but the ways that it affects your document can sometimes be ...

Discover More

Using Data Forms

Lots of people prefer to enter information directly into Excel, but there is another way that may be helpful: Using data ...

Discover More

Strange Tab Settings in Bulleted Items

Getting bulleted lists to look just right can be challenging, particularly if you are using the Bullet tool on the Home ...

Discover More

Save Time and Supercharge Excel! Automate virtually any routine task and save yourself hours, days, maybe even weeks. Then, learn how to make Excel do things you thought were simply impossible! Mastering advanced Excel macros has never been easier. Check out Excel 2010 VBA and Macros today!

More ExcelTips (menu)

Accepting Only a Single Digit

Want a quick way to enter a series of single digits into consecutive cells? The best approach is with a macro, and this ...

Discover More

Jumping to the Start of the Next Data Entry Row

Want a quick way to jump to the end of your data entry area in a worksheet? The macro in this tip makes quick work of the ...

Discover More

Entering Data as Thousands

There are many different ways you may need to enter data in a worksheet. For instance, you might want to enter data in ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is four minus 2?

2019-02-20 11:27:53

Kim

Hi Allen - Thank you!! This was a very cool tip!!
I have a series of 3 footnotes under a complex graph and data table on a report, the footnotes themselves do not contain a function/formula, so I was able to superscript the 3 digits, of course. However, I was pointing to that one on the other two tabs to copy the text and it eliminated the superscripting. Using this tip, those superscripts traveled to the other tabs perfectly. Beauteous! :)
If the snapshot attaches appropriately, what you are seeing is the result of using an =Svcs!$E$41 to point to the original footnote cell(s) and you can see the superscripts are lovely. ;) (see Figure 1 below)

Figure 1. Copied text with superscripts


2019-01-12 11:14:14

Brian

**Some of them require holding down the Alt key as you enter a code on the numeric keypad.**

In your search engine, look for Ted Montgomery's ALT codes and make the chart a favorite. Hold down the ALT key and type in corresponding number to the symbol on the numeric pad and let go the ALT key.


This Site

Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.