The use of symbols helps the reader to understand a document, especially when technicality is involved. A simple thing like a degree symbol can make a big difference in the overall understanding of the document.
Here are the shortcuts for creating the symbol:
MS word Shortcut
Alt + Shift +2 / Alt+@ then press space
Alt code shortcut
Windows: ALT + 248 or ALT + 0176 on the numpad
Mac: Option + Shift + 8
Note: Remember to add the letters °C for Celsius or °F for Fahrenheit after the temperature symbol.
Conclusion
Adding the degree symbol is now quick and easy with the help of these shortcuts. Whether you are writing a report, creating a spreadsheet, or designing a presentation, using symbols can help make your content clearer and readable.
If you only need the symbol once and would rather not memorise a keystroke, you can also insert it from the menu. In Word, go to the Insert tab, choose Symbol, and pick the degree sign from the list of recent or special characters. On Windows you can open Character Map from the Start menu, search for “degree”, and copy the character straight into your file. These routes are handy on a laptop without a separate number pad, where the Alt code method can be awkward.
One small thing to watch for is that the degree sign is not the same as the masculine ordinal character or a superscript lowercase o, even though they look similar at a glance. Picking the correct symbol keeps your temperatures readable and avoids odd spacing when a colleague opens the document on another device. Once you settle on the method that suits your keyboard, writing 20 °C or 68 °F becomes second nature.
