When you want to add a special character to a document, Google Docs is happy to do so with its built-in library of symbols, emojis, and punctuation. But the whole process of adding them can be a tedious task. For example, having to repeatedly access Google Docs’ special character list itself can be mind-blowing.
Therefore, the five ways I’ve listed below should make your life a lot easier when adding special characters to Google Docs. From accessing the special character library faster, searching items quickly, creating shortcuts for your favorite characters, you’ll soon find that working with them isn’t as bad as it used to be.
1. Open Custom Character Library Faster
To get to the Insert Special Character box in Google Docs, you must first open the Insert menu and then click Special Characters. It interrupts your flow while you work.
Instead, use the Alt + I + C key combination to get to the Insert Special Characters box faster. If you’re using Google Docs on a Mac, the key combination gets a little longer – Ctrl + Option + I + C.
Then everything is normal — use the filter menus or the search box to find the special character you want.
2. Draw Special Character
Can’t find a specific character with filter menus or search box? Why not call it by drawing instead?
Make a rough sketch of the character in the empty box below the search bar—it doesn’t have to be perfect—and Google Docs automatically filters out characters that closely match what you’ve drawn. It works incredibly well, so give it a try.
3. Enter Unicode Value
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of repeatedly searching or drawing a special character, use the Unicode value instead. Filter the character first and then move the cursor over it. You should see the unicode value, something in the format U+xxxx.
Next time, simply add letters and numbers to the end of the Unicode value (exclude the ‘U+’) in the search box for faster filtering. You may want to memorize the Unicode values of frequently used special characters.
4. Auto Switch
An even faster way to add any special characters is to use the AutoReplace function in Google Docs. It takes some work to set up, but once you’ve got it in place, it should be super easy to add frequently used special characters.
Stage 1: Add a special character to a document as you normally would.
Step 2: Copy the special character to your clipboard.
Stage 3: Open the Tools menu and then click Preferences.
Step 4: Add any character (preferably a combination of characters) from your keyboard in the Replace box. This character or set of characters will be replaced with a special character each time you type in a document. Next, paste the special character (press Ctrl + V or Cmd + V combo) into the With box.
Step 5: Type the character or character set, press Space and voila! Instead, the special character should appear in place.
You can add as many substitutions as you want. Try to avoid using common key combinations for your substitutions as they can hinder your normal workflow.
5. Alt or Option Shortcuts
An alternative method to insert special characters is to use Alt code shortcuts. These codes allow you to insert most of the special characters by holding down the Alt key while entering a code on the numeric keypad. For example, the Alt + 0169 code shortcut allows you to easily add the Copyright symbol.
Note: On keyboards without a dedicated numeric keypad, use the FN key in combination with the Alt key when typing numeric characters via the number row.
Things work a little differently on Macs. To insert special characters, you must use the Option or Option + Shift keys in combination with various alphanumeric keys. For example, adding the Copyright symbol is as simple as pressing Option + G.
For a list of Alt or Option shortcuts, click the buttons below to view the appropriate lists:
The great 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 Vehicles
With the tips above, it will be super easy to add special characters to Google Docs. The first three tips will help you get to your favorite characters faster. But if you’re constantly dealing with them, don’t forget to use the substitution or Alt/Option shortcuts to make the whole process incredibly easy.
I love using the AutoReplace functionality – it’s my favorite way to add em dashes to Google Docs. But what’s yours? Are there any other ways to add special characters you know of? Share it in the comments.
Next: Did you know that you can add YouTube videos to your Google Docs documents? Here’s how to do it.
