You're typing up a lab report or maybe just a recipe for the perfect sourdough, and then it happens. You need that tiny, floating circle. The degree symbol. It seems like it should be right there on the keyboard, maybe tucked next to the percent sign or the hashtag, but it’s nowhere to be found. Honestly, it’s one of those minor tech hurdles that feels way more frustrating than it actually is.
If you’ve spent the last five minutes squinting at your keyboard or—let’s be real—copy-pasting the symbol from a Google search result, you’re not alone. We’ve all been there. Knowing how to write a degree symbol on Word isn’t just about memorizing a weird code; it’s about choosing the workflow that doesn't break your focus. Whether you’re a "shortcut person" or someone who prefers clicking through a menu, there are about five different ways to get this done. Some are fast. Some are permanent. One is basically a magic trick with your Num Lock key.
The Shortcut Everyone Forgets
Most people want the fastest route. They don’t want to menu-dive.
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Microsoft Word has a specific built-in shortcut for this. It’s a bit of a finger-stretcher, but once it’s in your muscle memory, you’ll never look back. You press Ctrl + Shift + @, release them, and then hit the Spacebar.
Wait, why the spacebar? Because the "at" symbol (@) is actually a "dead key" in certain keyboard configurations when combined with modifiers. In Word's specific shortcut language, this sequence tells the program you want to insert a superscript-style circle. If you’re on a Mac, the vibe is different. You just hit Option + Shift + 8. It’s cleaner. It’s faster. Mac users definitely won that round of UX design.
But let’s say you’re on a PC and that triple-key combo feels like playing Twister with your left hand. There’s an even older school method.
The Alt Code Method (For the Number Pad Loyalists)
This is the "pro" way, though it requires a keyboard with a dedicated number pad on the right side. If you’re on a compact laptop without those extra numbers, skip this part because using the top row of numbers won't work.
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type 0176 on the number pad.
- Release Alt.
Boom. The degree symbol (°) appears.
Interestingly, there’s actually a second code: Alt + 248. Both work. Why are there two? It dates back to the old ASCII and ANSI character sets. Alt + 248 is part of the original extended ASCII set, while 0176 is the Windows ANSI code. In modern Word versions, they both result in the same glyph, so just pick the one your brain finds easier to remember. Personally, 0176 feels more "official," but 248 is shorter.
Using the Ribbon (The Visual Way)
Sometimes your brain is just fried and you can’t remember a single code. That’s fine. That’s why the Ribbon exists.
Go to the Insert tab at the top of your screen. Look all the way to the right. You’ll see Symbol. Click it, then click More Symbols. This opens a chaotic-looking grid of every character known to man. To find the degree symbol quickly, look at the "Subset" dropdown menu on the right and select Latin-1 Supplement.
You’ll see the little circle hanging out there. Select it and hit Insert.
A quick tip for the future: Once you use it once, it will show up in your "Recently Used Symbols" list right when you click the Symbol button, so you won't have to dig through the grid again.
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The AutoCorrect Hack: Making Word Work for You
If you write about temperature or geometry a lot, you shouldn't have to use shortcuts at all. You can actually "teach" Word to write the symbol for you. This is the "set it and forget it" method.
Basically, you can tell Word: "Every time I type (deg), replace it with °."
- Open the Insert > Symbol > More Symbols menu again.
- Find the degree symbol and select it.
- Click the AutoCorrect button at the bottom of the window.
- In the "Replace" box, type something unique like
(deg)or*deg. - Make sure the "With" box has the degree symbol in it.
- Click Add and then OK.
Now, whenever you’re typing and you hit those keys, Word does the heavy lifting. It’s a massive time-saver for technical writers or weather bloggers. Honestly, why this isn't a default setting is anyone's guess.
Unicode: The Technical Backdoor
If you want to feel like a hacker—or if you're working in a version of Word that's acting glitchy—you can use the Unicode hex code.
Type 00B0 (that’s zero-zero-B-zero) directly into your document, and then immediately press Alt + X.
The text will instantly transform into the degree symbol. This works because Word has a built-in toggle for Unicode. It's a great party trick for IT departments, but for most of us, it’s just another tool in the belt for when the standard shortcuts fail.
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Why Does This Matter? (The Typography Nerd Corner)
You might wonder why we don't just use a superscript "o." Please, for the love of clean design, don't do that.
A superscript lowercase "o" looks different than a true degree symbol. The weight of the line is often different, and the spacing can be wonky. If you’re sending a document to a client or a professor, using the actual character shows a level of attention to detail that "faking it" doesn't.
Also, screen readers (used by people with visual impairments) will read "0176" as "degrees," whereas they might just read a superscript "o" as the letter "o," which makes your 98° body temperature sound like a very confusing 98-o.
Moving Beyond Word
The funny thing is, once you learn how to write a degree symbol on Word, you realize you need it everywhere else too—Slack, Chrome, Excel.
The Alt + 0176 trick works in almost any Windows application. On mobile? Just long-press the 0 (zero) key on your iPhone or Android keyboard. A little pop-up will appear with the degree symbol. It’s surprisingly intuitive once you know it’s there.
Practical Next Steps
If you’re sitting at your desk right now trying to finish a document, here is your immediate game plan to master this:
- Try the "Alt + 0176" method first. It is the most universal skill you can have for Windows.
- If you're on a laptop without a number pad, memorize Ctrl + Shift + @, then Space. It’s the "laptop-friendly" version.
- Set up the AutoCorrect shortcut. Seriously. Spend the 30 seconds to map
(deg)to°. You will thank yourself six months from now when you’re in a rush. - Test it in a different app. Open a Notepad file or your browser and try the Alt code. Seeing it work outside of Word helps cement the "rule" in your brain.
There’s no reason to let a tiny circle slow down your output. Pick one method, stick with it for a day, and it’ll be part of your permanent toolkit.