Guide: How to Insert Special Characters in Google Docs
Whenever you want to insert a special character into a document, Google Docs is happy to do so with its library of built-in symbols, emojis, and punctuation. But the whole process of adding it can be a tedious task. For example, having to repeatedly access the Google Docs special characters list can be mind-numbing. That’s why the five ways I’ve listed below should make your life a lot easier when inserting special characters in Google Docs. From opening the library of special characters faster, searching for items quickly, to creating shortcuts for your favorite characters, you’ll quickly realize that working with them isn’t as bad as before.
1. Open the library of special characters faster
To get to the Insert Special Characters box in Google Docs, you must first open the Insert menu and then click Special Characters. Breaks your flow while working. Instead, use the Alt + I + C key combination to get to the Insert Special Characters box more quickly. If you’re using Google Docs on a Mac, the key combination becomes a bit longer – Ctrl + Option + I + C.
Then it’s normal: use the filter menus or the search box to find the special character you are looking for.
2. Draw a special character
Can’t find a particular character with the filter menus or search box? Why not look for it by drawing it instead?
Make a rough sketch of the character – it doesn’t have to be perfect – in the empty box below the search bar, and Google Docs will automatically filter the characters that closely match what you’ve drawn. It works incredibly well, so give it a try.
3. Enter the Unicode value
If you don’t want the hassle of repeatedly searching for a special character or drawing a special character, use the Unicode value instead. First filter the character and then place the cursor on it. You should see the unicode value, something in the form of U + xxxx.
Next time, just put the letters and numbers at the end of the Unicode value (omit ‘U +’) in the search box for faster filtering. You may want to store the Unicode values of frequently used special characters in memory.
4. Automatic replacement
An even faster way to insert a special character is to use the Auto Replacement feature in Google Docs. It takes some work to set up up, but once you have it in place, inserting commonly used special characters should be a breeze. Step 1: Insert a special character in a document as you normally would.
Step 2: Copy the special character to your clipboard.
Step 3: Open the Tools menu and click Preferences.
Step 4: Insert any character on your keyboard (preferably a combination of characters) in the Replace box. This character or sequence of characters is replaced by the special character when you type them in a document. Then paste the special character (press Ctrl + V or Cmd + V combo) into the With box.
Step 5: Type the character or set of characters, hit the spacebar and voila! The special character should pop up in it’s place. You can add as many replacements as you want. Try to avoid using regular keyboard shortcuts for your replacements as these can disrupt your normal workflow.
5. Alt or Option shortcuts
An alternative method of inserting special characters is to use Alt code shortcuts. These codes allow you to insert most special characters by holding down the Alt key while entering a code in the numeric keypad. For example, the code shortcut Alt + 0169 makes it easy to insert the Copyright symbol. Note: On keyboards without special numeric keys, use the FN key in combination with the Alt key when typing numeric characters through the number row. Things work a little differently on Macs. You must use the Option or Option + Shift keys in combination with different alphanumeric keys to insert special characters. For example, inserting the Copyright symbol is a matter of pressing Option + G. For a list of Alt or Option keyboard shortcuts, see the respective lists by clicking the buttons Below: Alt Shortcut List – PC List of options shortcuts – Mac The best thing about Alt or Option shortcuts is that you can use them to insert special characters in any word processor. They are not limited to Google Docs.
Special resources
With the tips above, inserting special characters in Google Docs should be a breeze. The first three tips should help you get to your favorite characters faster. But if you’re dealing with it all the time, don’t forget to use substitution or Alt / Option shortcuts to make the whole process incredibly easier. I like to use the Auto Replacement feature – it’s my favorite way to insert the em dash in Google Docs. But what is yours? Are there other ways to insert special characters that you are familiar with? Share in comments. The next up: Did you know you can insert YouTube videos into your Google Docs documents? Here is how to do it.
How to Insert Special Characters in Google Docs: benefits
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