How to type Exponent Symbols on the keyboard - Software Accountant (2024)

This post will cover several methods for typing or inserting any Exponent Symbol or symbols in Microsoft Word, Windows, and Mac, including using keyboard shortcuts.

Without any further ado, let’s get started.

Exponent Symbols Alt Code Shortcuts (for Windows)

The below table contains all the Alt Code shortcuts for Exponent Symbols.

Below the table has all the instructions on how to type these characters on your keyboard with these Alt Codes.

Thus, browse through this table for the Exponent Symbol you want to type, note down the shortcut, then follow the instructions below these tables to type it into your documents.

On Windows, alt codes like these are used to type symbols or characters that are not available on the keyboard.

Some of these alt codes methods work only in Microsoft Word on Windows. And all of it requires that your keyboard have a separate numeric keypad with Num Lock enabled.

Using this approach to type Exponent Symbols is extremely beneficial because it saves a significant amount of time when trying to type special characters like these.

The following are the detailed steps you can take to type this symbol on Windows using the Alt Code keyboard shortcut:

• Open your Word document where the symbol is to be typed.
• The cursor should be positioned in the desired location.
• Press and hold on to one of your Alt Keys.
• As you hold down the Alt key, use the numeric keypad on the right to type the Exponent Alt Code (see above table).
• Release the alt key after typing the code.

As soon as you let go of the Alt key, the Exponent Symbol you choose will appear.

The following rules must be followed for the Exponent Alt Code to work.

• Before typing the code, you must hold down the Alt key.
• To type the alt code, you must use the numeric keypad on the right side of the keyboard.
• The NumLock must be enabled because you are using the 10-key numeric keypad. When you turn off NumLock, the number keys become disabled, and you won’t be able to type any numbers.
• If you’re using a laptop that doesn’t have a numeric keypad, you’ll need to activate the hidden numeric keypad first. On most laptops, you can turn it on by pressing the Fn + NmLk keys at the same time. A hidden numeric keypad isn’t found on every laptop. If it doesn’t appear in yours, you won’t be able to type symbols using the alt code method unless you connect an external keyboard with a numeric keypad or use the on-screen keyboard. Yet still, you can use the other methods discussed in this guide.
• You should also be aware that, depending on the text editor you’re using, not all symbols can be typed with the alt code. Only Microsoft Word recognizes some of the alt codes.

Insert Exponent Symbols on Mac

You can also obtain the Exponent Symbols on Mac using the Character Viewer.

The Character Viewer is a place on Mac where you can add special characters and symbols to text, such as Exponent Symbols, math symbols, Latin characters, and pictographs.

Obey the following steps to insert these Exponent symbols on Mac.

1. Place your cursor in the text area where you need to insert the symbol.
2. Press Control + Command + Space bar to bring up the Character Viewer. Alternatively, choose Edit > Emoji & Symbols.
3. Type the name of the Exponent sign in the search field at the top and press Enter. For example, type (superscript 2) to get ²
4. The symbol should appear. Kindly click on it to insert it into your text.

These are the steps you may use to insert this and any other symbol on Mac using the Character Viewer.

Insert Exponent Symbols from the Office Symbol Library

If using the keyboard isn’t your thing, there’s also a mouse-based method for getting the Exponent Symbols in Office apps like Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

To explain the steps, we’ll use screenshots of Microsoft Word. You can, however, use the same method in Excel and PowerPoint.

Without further ado, here are the steps to take:

• Launch MS Word or Excel or PowerPoint.
• Place your cursor at the desired place.
• Navigate to theInserttab.

• Click the Symbols button in the Symbols group, then select More Symbols from the drop-down menu.

TheSymbolwindow will appear. It contains a gazillion of symbols which include all the Exponent Symbols.

• Find the Exponent Symbols in the symbol library.

To easily locate these symbols, use theSubsetdropdown list to display specific types of symbols. You can find theExponent Symbols in the Superscripts and Subscriptsgroup in the Subset list.

• To insert these exponents into your document, simply double-click on them. Alternatively, click the Insert button after selecting the desired symbol.
• Close the Dialog.

If you follow the above steps carefully, you can insert the Exponent Symbols in Word or any other symbol or character not available on the keyboard.

Copy and Paste Exponent Symbols

This is by far the simplest way to obtain any symbol, including Exponent Symbols.

You simply need to copy the symbol somewhere, such as a web page, and then press Ctrl + V after switching to the document where you need it.

If you have a Windows PC, the steps below will show you how to copy this symbol from the Character Map.

• Search and Launch the Character Map app.
• Near the button, select the Advance View checkbox to expand more Character map options.

In the Advanced view, you will see a search box. In this search box, type in the name of the Exponent Symbol and press Enter. For example, type (Superscript two) to get ².

• The symbol will appear in the search results.
• Simply double click on it and hit on the Copy button after it is selected in the Characters to copy text box.

Conclusion

Obtaining symbols like these Exponent Symbols that do not have keys on the keyboard can be difficult.

However, with the assistance of the methods and instructions discussed here, it should no longer be a difficult task.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this guide.