The degree symbol ( ° ), albeit being used very often, isn’t widely available on most computer keyboards. Chromebooks with an even more simplified keyboard layout also don’t have a key with a degree symbol stamped on them. But that doesn’t mean you can’t create the character right away.
Like many operating systems, ChromeOS does support Unicode characters to be displayed. The degree symbol in particular can be created by typing a specific combination code which then will be translated automatically to the designated character.
In the following guide, I’m going to show you how to make a degree symbol on any Chromebook. Unicode characters are stored within the operating system so that you can make one offline.
Table of Contents
Steps to make a degree symbol °
1. Open a text editor app. I use Google Docs in this example, but the method works on any app.
2. Press Ctrl+Shift+u simultaneously and then release them.
3. You would see the letter “u” with an underscore.
4. Next, type 00B0 after the letter “u” you just created before.
5. Press the Space key to convert it to a degree symbol.
You can find more interesting symbols to type on Compart HTML Entities, then look at a character’s UTF-16 Encoding version.
For example, the Unicode encoding for a pi symbol (π) is u03c0.
The beauty of Unicode is that each character will mostly look the same across devices. Other users with different operating systems would see exactly the same character that you wrote on your Chromebook (emoji is an exception).
Alternative method, copy and paste the degree symbol
If you only need the degree symbol occasionally, copy-pasting from a reference can be the fastest option.
- Many websites have lists of special characters and their Unicode values, like Wikipedia’s Unicode Character Code Charts.
- You can easily copy the degree symbol from tables like these and paste it into your document.
- This avoids having to memorize codes or open special character pickers if it’s just for one-off use.
How to use the degree symbol (°) properly
Once you’ve mastered typing the degree symbol on your Chromebook, you’ll want to make sure to use it properly when writing:
- Always put a space between the number and the degree symbol (e.g. 37 °C).
- Only use the degree symbol once after each value. Don’t type something like 37 °°C.
- The degree symbol is used for temperatures (°C, °F), angles, coordinates (latitude 40° N), and sometimes densities (40° API). Make sure you’re using the proper context.
Now you have the tools to quickly type the degree symbol on any Chromebook! Whether you change your keyboard layout, use special character pickers, or just copy-paste it, you’ll always have easy access to this useful symbol.
FAQs
Where is the degrees symbol on Chromebook?
There is no dedicated key for the degree symbol, but you can use this shortcut: Press Ctrl+Shift+U, release, type 00B0, then press Space.
How to insert the degree symbol on Chromebook?
On a Chromebook, you can type the degree symbol by pressing Ctrl+Shift+U, then type ’00B0′ and press the Spacebar. On a Windows computer, you can type the degree symbol by holding the Alt key and typing ‘248’ or ‘0176’ on the numeric keypad.
Where is the degree symbol on Google keyboard?
If you’re using the native Gboard keyboard, tap the ‘?123’ key at the bottom left and then ‘=<‘ to access the expanded set of symbols. The exact location of the degree symbol may vary depending on the keyboard layout and language settings.
How can you quickly access special characters on a Chromebook?
Use a Chrome extension like Special Characters which add special character pickers to the toolbar for easy access..
What are some common uses for the degree symbol?
It’s used for temperatures (°C, °F), angles, coordinates (40° N), and sometimes densities (40° API). Use the degree symbol only once per value and align multiple degree symbols properly when listing values for a clean look.
