In last week’s post I explained how to insert non-traditional characters into your Word or other text-based document. I promised to share a list of commonly used ASCII keyboard shortcut Alt+ codes, and here they are. If you have a favourite non-standard character that is not represented here, please let me know in the comments below, and I’ll consider adding it.
Where did I get these codes from? As explained previously, you can pick them up in Word when inserting a character (Insert – Symbol – drop down From to ASCII) or in the Character Map (click on a symbol, look bottom right for the code). There are also various online resources that list them, and this is a list of my favourites. I hope you find it useful!
à Alt-0224 lower case a grave
á Alt-0225 lower case a acute
â Alt-0226 lower case a circumflex
ä Alt-0228 lower case a diaeresis
æ Alt-0230 lower case ae
ç Alt-0231 lower case c cedilla
è Alt-0232 lower case e grave
é Alt-0233 lower case e acute
É Alt-0201 upper case e acute
ê Alt-0234 lower case e circumflex
í Alt-0237 lower case i acute
ñ Alt-0241 lower case n tilde
ô Alt-0244 lower case o circumflex
õ Alt-0245 lower case o tilde
ö Alt-0246 lower case o diaeresis
ø Alt-0248 lower case o stroke
ð Alt-0240 lower case eth
Ð Alt-0208 upper case eth
þ Alt-0254 lower case thorn
Þ Alt-0222 upper case thorn
ß Alt-0223 lower case sharp
× Alt-158 multiplication symbol
÷ Alt-246 division symbol
Note: there is no ASCII code for a tick / check mark – you need to use Wingdings2 and a P in Word, not sure how people manage it elsewhere (add a comment if you know how to do this).
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Related posts on this blog:
how to insert non-traditional characters
LibroEditing proofreading, editing, transcription, localisation 
lauraannripper
July 30, 2014 at 10:04 am
Very handy list – thank you for posting it!
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Liz at Libro
July 30, 2014 at 10:34 am
Thanks, Laura! Do let me know if you want me to add any others …
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shewolfinthevalley
August 2, 2014 at 2:53 pm
I regularly use the Alt139 to get a lower case i with a diaeresis, as I have one in my name. But I have no idea how to do it when I have a keyboard with no number pad… any clues?
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Liz at Libro
August 2, 2014 at 3:21 pm
You SHOULD be able to bring up the character map as described, copy and then do a Ctrl-V in whatever application you’re in to pop it in your word wherever you are. Hope that helps!
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Arlene Prunkl
August 2, 2014 at 9:13 pm
Liz, how do you make the mathematical multiplication symbol (as opposed to the letter X)? I can never find it in Symbols in Word.
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Liz at Libro
August 3, 2014 at 6:55 am
Thanks for your question, Arlene – Alt-158 will give you an multiplication symbol: ×
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Arlene Prunkl
August 3, 2014 at 4:31 pm
Thanks, Liz!
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Arlene Prunkl
August 3, 2014 at 7:48 pm
Okay, I pressed “Alt” and held it down while typing the numbers 1,5,8. Crazy stuff happened, and it didn’t work. What am I doing wrong?
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Liz at Libro
August 3, 2014 at 8:00 pm
Erm, what exactly happened?
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Arlene Prunkl
August 3, 2014 at 8:13 pm
Tabs at the top (I work in Chrome) started shifting, and I ended up on my e-mail.
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Liz at Libro
August 3, 2014 at 8:22 pm
Ah, there must be a shortcut set up. I will try to find where it is in the character map …
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