# How do I type a decimal point on my PC keyboard? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 17, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032 "2011-03-17T16:02:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rrose\_Selavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/1 "2011-03-17T16:02:26Z")
This is weird after all these years of using PCs I can’t find it anywhere using shift, entrol , num pad etc Google isn’t helping either I’ve got a standard full sized PC keyboard How do i type a floating decimal point ie one that is centred upway between top & bottom as you might write it \*\*not \*\*positioned like a full stop/period) ? ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/2 "2011-03-17T16:04:52Z")
You mean something like this? 123·456 If so, just bring up the Character Map utility. It’s in there. Select, copy, paste… ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/3 "2011-03-17T16:07:28Z")
> [@Rrose\_Selavy](#): > > ie one that is centred upway between top & bottom as you might write it > \*\*not \*\*positioned like a full stop/period) ? I don’t understand. Where are you from? In the US, the decimal point is at the bottom, the same as a period. We use the decimal that is provided in the numerical keypad to the right of the alpha keyboard, but it is in all ways the same as a period. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/4 "2011-03-17T16:11:20Z")
you can also use ALT+0183 ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/5 "2011-03-17T16:12:35Z")
> **[Interpunct](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_dot)** > > An interpunct ⟨·⟩, also known as an interpoint, middle dot, middot, centered dot or centred dot, is a punctuation mark consisting of a vertically centered dot used for interword separation in Classical Latin. (Word-separating spaces did not appear until some time between 600 and 800 CE.) It appears in a variety of uses in some modern languages and is present in Unicode as .mw-parser-output .monospaced{font-family:monospace,monospace}U+00B7 · MIDDLE DOT. > The multiplication dot (Unicode U+22C5 ⋅ D... ---
**Author:** ![Rrose\_Selavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/6 "2011-03-17T16:16:32Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I don’t understand. Where are you from? In the US, the decimal point is at the bottom, the same as a period. We use the decimal that is provided in the numerical keypad to the right of the alpha keyboard, but it is in all ways the same as a period. Not it’s not the same , that’s why I asked the question. I’m NOT from the US , I’m in the UK. Even though for most purposes the full spot would have sufficed and we use it in the same way. In fact 'm not typing decimals as such but I want a word separator that looks exactly like a floating decimal as I described . I’ll try the suggestions offered. ---
**Author:** ![Rrose\_Selavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/7 "2011-03-17T16:21:45Z")
> [@fubbleskag](#): > > [Interpunct - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_dot) Thanks. so it’s called an "interpoint/interpuct " and given my location and age it’s not surprising I was still looking for it. > [@](#): > > In British publications up to the mid-1970s, especially scientific and mathematical texts, the decimal point was commonly typeset as a middle dot. When the British currency was decimalised in 1971, the official advice issued was to write decimal amounts with a raised point (thus: £21·48) and to use a decimal point “on the line” only when typesetting constraints made it unavoidable. The widespread introduction of electronic typewriters and calculators soon afterwards was probably a major factor contributing to the decline of the raised decimal point, although it can still sometimes be encountered in academic circles (e.g., Cambridge University History Faculty Style Guide 2010[7]) and its use is still enforced by some UK-based academic journals such as The Lancet.[8] ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/8 "2011-03-17T16:22:23Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > you can also use ALT+0183 It works for me 3·4159265 ···:D··· ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/9 "2011-03-17T16:23:43Z")
> [@Rrose\_Selavy](#): > > Even though for most purposes the full spot would have sufficed … Are you saying that for most purposes in the UK, it is sufficient to put a decimal point at the bottom, but it is preferred to put it in the middle? I’m not all that worldly, but I don’t recall EVER seeing it like that. ---
**Author:** ![Rrose\_Selavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/10 "2011-03-17T16:26:23Z")
Thanks but I can’t use the alt + 0183 shortcut I get a windows exclamation sound etc Maybe it’s just for US keyboard settings? ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/11 "2011-03-17T16:27:09Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > It works for me 3·4159265 > > ···:D··· That’s a big pi. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/12 "2011-03-17T16:34:12Z")
i always put the decimal point in the middle when writing. > [@Rrose\_Selavy](#): > > Thanks but I can’t use the alt + 0183 shortcut > I get a windows exclamation sound etc > Maybe it’s just for US keyboard settings? type it in this order - [ol] [li]hold ALT[/li][li]press 0[/li][li]press 1[/li][li]press 8[/li][li]press 3[/li][li]let go of ALT[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/13 "2011-03-17T16:34:24Z")
> [@Rrose\_Selavy](#): > > Thanks but I can’t use the alt + 0183 shortcut > I get a windows exclamation sound etc > Maybe it’s just for US keyboard settings? I’m · on · a · UK · keyboard · and · alt 0183 · works · for · me 🙂 Remember to use the keypad for the numbers, not the top row. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/14 "2011-03-17T16:38:54Z")
I’m on a Mac. What do I do? Use Character Viewer! (I have to put middle dots between metric units: kW·h.) Looking at Keyboard Viewer, it also seems to be Option-Shift-9. ··· Yep! ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/15 "2011-03-17T16:41:26Z")
For·those·using·OS X, it’s·opt-shift-9 ETA · I see **Sunspace** figured it out while I was typing. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/16 "2011-03-17T16:42:09Z")
> [@Rrose\_Selavy](#): > > Thanks but I can’t use the alt + 0183 shortcut > I get a windows exclamation sound etc > Maybe it’s just for US keyboard settings? Note that you have to have NUMLOCK turned on for this to work. ---
**Author:** ![Rrose\_Selavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/17 "2011-03-17T16:46:23Z")
Ok ·I ·got·it·now Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/18 "2011-03-17T16:58:29Z")
When I was taught math in the USA, we learned that the raised dot · stood for multiplication. It meant the same as the more familiar multiplication sign ×. Why use the raised dot when multiplication already had a sign? I’m guessing that was to avoid confusion of × with the letter x in algebra. Obviously, in such a universe the same raised dot as a decimal point could not work. It would make figures turn out wayyy the heck different, speaking of confusion. ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/19 "2011-03-17T17:14:13Z")
In the UK ‘.’ e.g. ‘5.101’ is the standard way of writing decimal points. Using ‘·’ e.g. ‘5·101’ can be confusing as it’s often used to indicate multiplcation. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/20 "2011-03-17T17:31:30Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > It works for me 3·4159265 > > ···:D··· You accidentally a whole digit. When come back… you know. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032.md?page=2)