How to properly type 8 popular punctuation marks

I’ve noticed a lack of basic punctuation in online conversations: everything from using the degree sign to em dashes. As a result, I put together this handy table so people could see how easy it is to use proper punctuation.

Let me know in the comments if there are other punctuation marks you’d like to know how to do.

Name Symbol Mac PC
Degree ° Shift + Option + 8 Alt + 0176
Em dash — Shift + Option + – Alt + 0151
En dash – Option + – Alt + 0150
Left double “ Option + [ Alt + 0147
Right double ” Shift + Option [ Alt + 0148
Left single ‘ Option + ] Alt + 0145
Right single ’ Shift + Option + ] Alt + 0146
Cent ¢ Option + 4 Alt + 0162

If you came here looking for how to type these characters on a Chrome book, visit my How to type special characters on Chromebook post.

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Categorised as Type

By Kim Siever

I am a copywriter and copyeditor. I blog on writing and social media tips mostly, but I sometimes throw in my thoughts about running a small business. Follow me on Twitter at @hotpepper.

5 comments

  1. Pingback: Dashes and hyphens: what’s the difference? | Hot Pepper Communications

  2. Not sure it’s fair to say that this is easy. Many users will be confused by ALT+0150, etc., because it is not clear how one types that. You can’t use the numbers at the top of the keyboard. You have to either use a numerical keypad, which many computers don’t have, or use the overlaid numbers on the keyboard after turning on number lock. For me to type the en-dash, I have to do this:
    Press Fn key + NmLk (turns on number lock)
    Hold down ALT and then type in series 0150, then release ALT
    Again press Fn key + NmLk (turns off number lock so I can continue typing letters with those keys).
    Overall, I have to press keys 9 times to type one character. I don’t see that as easy.
    Word allows you to enter an en-dash with Ctrl + Num- ( the hyphen on the numeric keypad, or hyphen on the overlaid numeric keypad after turning number lock on).

    1. Good points, Jeff. It certainly is problematic when using a Windows-based laptop keyboard.

      Most Windows-based desktop keyboards have a number pad and will allow you to keep the function keys on, so you’ll have only 5 keystrokes. At first, those keystrokes can seem burdensome, but I found that after a while, they became second nature and hardly slowed me down at all.

      An alternative is that most word processing software (including Office and Google Docs) will allow you to create keyboard shortcuts, so you might be able to create your own keyboard combination as a productivity hack. :)

  3. Pingback: How to type special characters on Chromebook
  4. Pingback: How to make a degree symbol on a Chromebook

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