# ¡ ásçìï çöðès for Special Characters using PCs! **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 11, 1999, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586 "1999-11-11T15:43:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 1999, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586/1 "1999-11-11T15:43:00Z")
This subject comes up with a certain frequency: How do we type in non-English letters and special symbols? I am not familiar with Macs, although I understand that _some_ of these characters are easily available directly from the keyboard. The following list provides the largest number of symbols that should be displayed on all receiving monitors. There are quite a few other symbols available, but their display is inconsistent across different hardware and software configurations. On a PC, holding the Alt key down while entering the next four digits on the numeric keypad to the right of the keyboard will produce the following letters and symbols. The numeral keys across the top of the keyboard will not produce these results. Your **NumLock** should be set **ON**. You must type all four digits while the Alt key is depressed. (The Yen, ¥, at the bottom is an example of a character than many machines will either not produce or not display.) (There are a number of key patterns that can produce these symbols with only two or three digits, however, like the extended set of characters mentioned, above, they are inconsistent across hardware and software configs. The following list should consistently produce the largest number of symbols for the largest number of (PC) users.) Now, if I get really lucky, UBB will not mess up my alignment too badly: á Alt+0225 lowercase “a” acute Á Alt+0193 uppercase “a” acute â Alt+0226 lowercase “a” circumflex  Alt+0194 uppercase “a” circumflex à Alt+0224 lowercase “a” grave À Alt+0192 uppercase “a” grave å Alt+0229 lowercase “a” ring Å Alt+0197 uppercase “a” ring ã Alt+0227 lowercase “a” tilde à Alt+0195 uppercase “a” tilde ä Alt+0228 lowercase “a” umlaut Ä Alt+0196 uppercase “a” umlaut æ Alt+0230 lowercase “ae” ligature (also “ash”) Æ Alt+0198 uppercase “ae” ligature (also “ash”) ç Alt+0231 lowercase “c” cedilla Ç Alt+0199 uppercase “c” cedilla ð Alt+0240 lowercase edh (eth in Icelandic) Ð Alt+0208 uppercase edh (eth in Icelandic) é Alt+0233 lowercase “e” acute É Alt+0201 uppercase “e” acute ê Alt+0234 lowercase “e” circumflex Ê Alt+0202 uppercase “e” circumflex è Alt+0232 lowercase “e” grave È Alt+0200 uppercase “e” grave ë Alt+0235 lowercase “e” umlaut Ë Alt+0203 uppercase “e” umlaut í Alt+0237 lowercase “i” acute Í Alt+0205 uppercase “i” acute î Alt+0238 lowercase “i” circumflex Î Alt+0206 uppercase “i” circumflex ì Alt+0236 lowercase “i” grave Ì Alt+0204 uppercase “i” grave ï Alt+0239 lowercase “i” umlaut Ï Alt+0207 uppercase “i” umlaut ñ Alt+0241 lowercase “n” tilde Ñ Alt+0209 uppercase “n” tilde ó Alt+0243 lowercase “o” acute Ó Alt+0211 uppercase “o” acute ô Alt+0244 lowercase “o” circumflex Ô Alt+0212 uppercase “o” circumflex ò Alt+0242 lowercase “o” grave Ò Alt+0210 uppercase “o” grave ø Alt+0248 lowercase “o” slash Ø Alt+0216 uppercase “o” slash õ Alt+0245 lowercase “o” tilde Õ Alt+0213 uppercase “o” tilde ö Alt+0246 lowercase “o” umlaut Ö Alt+0214 uppercase “o” umlaut Þ Alt+0222 lowercase thorn þ Alt+0254 uppercase thorn ß Alt+0223 double “s” (or long “s”) ú Alt+0250 lowercase “u” acute Ú Alt+0218 uppercase “u” acute û Alt+0251 lowercase “u” circumflex Û Alt+0219 uppercase “u” circumflex ù Alt+0249 lowercase “u” grave Ù Alt+0217 uppercase “u” grave u Alt+0252 lowercase “u” umlaut Ü Alt+0220 uppercase “u” umlaut ý Alt+0253 lowercase “y” acute Ý Alt+0221 uppercase “y” acute ÿ Alt+0255 lowercase “y” umlaut ¸ Alt+0184 cedilla ¨ Alt+0168 die ¢ Alt+0162 cent £ Alt+0163 Pound Sterling © Alt+0169 copyright ® Alt+0174 registered trademark ¶ Alt+0182 paragraph § Alt+0167 section ¡ Alt+0161 inverted exclamation point ¿ Alt+0191 inverted question mark « Alt+0171 left double angle quote » Alt+0187 right double angle quote · Alt+0183 middle dot/bullet ° Alt+0176 degree ÷ Alt+0247 divide × Alt+0215 times (× not letter x) ± Alt+0177 plus/minus ² Alt+0178 superscript 2 ³ Alt+0179 superscript 3 ¼ Alt+0188 one quarter ½ Alt+0189 one half ¾ Alt+0190 three quarters ¥ Alt+3229 Yen * * * Tom~ ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 1999, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586/2 "1999-11-11T17:41:00Z")
> [@](#): > > I am not familiar with Macs, although I understand that some of these characters are easily available directly from the keyboard. I’m familiar with the Macintosh. If those characters are included in the font you’re currently using, they are _all_ available from the keyboard. For example, é is typed in by \e e. * * * La franchise ne consiste pas à dire tout ce que l’on pense, mais à penser tout ce que l’on dit. H. de Livry ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 1999, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586/3 "1999-11-11T17:42:00Z")
Let’s try that last sentence again. I’m familiar with the Macintosh. If those characters are included in the font you’re currently using, they are _all_ available from the keyboard. For example, é is typed in by {option}e e. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 1999, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586/4 "1999-11-11T17:57:00Z")
Thanks, guys. Let’s get this set and I’ll stick it in the Reference Section. your humble TubaDiva/SDStaffDiv for the Straight Dope always grateful for the help ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 1999, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586/5 "1999-11-11T21:13:00Z")
**Arnold** , just out of curiosity, what would the Mac keystrokes be for ¼, ©, £, or æ? Does **{option}** indicate a diacritical mark on the keyboard? Or is it a separate special key? (E.g., do you press **`** and **e** simultaneously followed by **e** to get **è**? It may be intuitively obvious to Mac users, but I’m having trouble picturing the keystrokes from your description. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 1999, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586/6 "1999-11-11T22:47:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Arnold, just out of curiosity, what would the Mac keystrokes be for ¼, ©, £, or æ? > Does {option} indicate a diacritical mark on the keyboard? Or is it a separate special key? (E.g., do you press ` and e simultaneously followed by e to get è? Sorry, tom, I’m at work right now so I don’t have access to my trusty make. **Blast and damnation** The “special” keys on a Macintosh are the “command” key (sometimes called the apple key), the control key (also present on PC keyboards) and the option key (labelled opt). The option key, (similar to the [alt] key on an IBM keyboard) works the same way as the shift key, in that when you press it by itself it does nothing. You use it in conjunction with another key to produce a different character. To do, for example © : press down the option key and g. £ : option 3 æ : option ; To find out which characters are formed when you press down the option key, there is a program in the apple menu called Key Caps. * * * La franchise ne consiste pas à dire tout ce que l’on pense, mais à penser tout ce que l’on dit. H. de Livry ---
**Author:** ![Huemr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/eada6e/32.png) [@Huemr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huemr)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 1999, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586/7 "1999-11-12T01:05:00Z")
_The following list provides the largest number of symbols that should be displayed on all receiving monitors. There are quite a few other symbols available, but their display is inconsistent across different hardware and software configurations._ Don’t forget this one. ™ Alt+0153 ---
**Author:** ![Louie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@Louie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Louie)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 1999, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586/8 "1999-11-12T07:59:00Z")
If you don’t like using Alt + number combos for your special symbols, then this site will show you how you do all the symbols the HTML way : [Webmonkey Reference: Special Characters](http://www.hotwired.com/webmonkey/reference/special_characters/) * * * …and remember, duct tape fixes _all_ your problems, big and small. [Fun with HTML (tutoral) : The True Sequal](http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Archives/Archive-000001/HTML/19991103-2-000302.html) [Give someone an FU](http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000255.html) ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 1999, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586/9 "1999-11-15T06:06:00Z")
a test: JÔJÔߟ ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 1999, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586/10 "1999-11-15T06:08:00Z")
Ah, ha! Try my way. Use the Windows Character Map [under accessories] find the FONT that has the character you want. Select the character. Copy it. Paste it into the message. Ta da! ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 1999, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586/11 "1999-11-14T19:00:00Z")
Ö ñ ---
**Author:** ![sly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@sly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sly)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 1999, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586/12 "1999-11-15T02:57:00Z")
> [@](#): > > On a PC, holding the Alt key down while entering the next four digits on the **numeric keypad** to the right of the keyboard will produce the following letters and symbols. This explains why I can’t do Alt-combos with my laptop. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 1999, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586/13 "1999-11-15T05:17:00Z")
I’m not sure; my wife’s laptop is at work. However, her keyboard has a set of numeric keys over where the old IBM 29 keypunch numerics were–on the right side of the keyboard, on top of the U I O J K L (and some surrounding) keys. You activate them with one of the Alt or Ctrl or other non-character keys. ---
**Author:** ![NanoByte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecc23a/32.png) [@NanoByte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NanoByte)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 1999, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586/14 "1999-11-15T06:45:00Z")
p \D\ ---
**Author:** ![NanoByte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecc23a/32.png) [@NanoByte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NanoByte)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 1999, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586/15 "1999-11-16T02:23:00Z")
As far as Netscape Navigator 4.7, trying ’ [![](https://cs.nyu.edu/~yap/gifs/hlx/pi.gif) ](https://cs.nyu.edu/~yap/gifs/hlx/pi.gif) ', in this SDMB form: 1. handy’s method, with Win 97, doesn’t work. and 1. neither does \<\p\, which works on a Web page in this browser. See my just-prior post here. I only got ’ [![](https://cs.nyu.edu/~yap/gifs/hlx/pi.gif) ](https://cs.nyu.edu/~yap/gifs/hlx/pi.gif) ’ here using '\< [![](https://cs.nyu.edu/~yap/gifs/hlx/pi.gif) ](https://cs.nyu.edu/~yap/gifs/hlx/pi.gif) '. So, tomndeb, how does one get Greek or Cyrillic letters here without such a cheat? Ray ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 1999, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586/16 "1999-11-16T03:46:00Z")
Greek and Cyrillic are among the codes that do not cross all platform/OS boundaries. If I get a chance, I’ll post the codes, but _I_ can’t see them in raw ASCII, so I don’t know how well they’ll show up here. If the following work, I’ll try to put the list together, if they don’t, I probably won’t: (At the right is the character I see after entering the Alt+code on my PC) I Alt+1097 lower case alpha \_\_\_ I ) Alt+1065 upper case alpha \_\_\_ ) J Alt+1098 lower case beta \_\_\_\_ J - Alt+1066 upper case beta \_\_\_\_ \* O Alt+1103 lower case gamma \_\_\_ O / Alt+1071 upper case gamma \_\_\_ / L Alt+1100 lower case delta \_\_\_ L , Alt+1068 upper case delta \_\_\_ , ## |4102|lower case cyr\_a \_\_\_\_ (no character) µ|4070|upper case cyr\_a \_\_\_ Greek lowercase mu ¦|4044|lower case cyr\_b \_\_\_ Broken bar \_|4060|upper case cyr\_b \_\_\_ underscore |4100|lower case cyr\_v \_\_\_\_ (no character) \_|4068|upper case cyr\_v \_\_\_ underscore §|4117|lower case cyr\_g \_\_\_ Section symbol \_|4085|upper case cyr\_g \_\_\_ underscore Tom~ ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 1999, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586/17 "1999-11-16T03:48:00Z")
Seems that listing those codes would be a waste of time. (If you need one of those alphabets, there are fonts available for various computers, including TrueType fonts, I believe. To produce themn here, it seems you need HTML.) ---
**Author:** ![NanoByte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecc23a/32.png) [@NanoByte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NanoByte)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 1999, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586/18 "1999-11-16T09:24:00Z")
\p a b g d e\ ---
**Author:** ![NanoByte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecc23a/32.png) [@NanoByte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NanoByte)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 1999, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586/19 "1999-11-16T09:32:00Z")
I was wrong. If I do it right, the method: font face="symbol"p/font does work, with the angle brackets in place, to give ‘\p\’. And the rest of the Greek alphabet works the same way, as I observe this on Netscape Nav 4.7. Ray ---
**Author:** ![NanoByte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecc23a/32.png) [@NanoByte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NanoByte)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 1999, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586/20 "1999-11-16T09:41:00Z")
\A B G D E Z H TH I K L M N X O P R S T U PH CH PS OO a b g d e z h th i k l m n x o p r s t u ph ch ps oo C F J Q V W Y c f j q v w y\ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascii-codes-for-special-characters-using-pcs/586.md?page=2)