Do you want to type the cent symbol but don’t know how? You’re in luck because we’re here to teach you how to type the cent symbol on your computer or smartphone. We will also tell you how to type or insert the cent sign in Microsoft Word, Excel and other computer applications.
The cent symbol is often used to represent the cents of a currency, particularly the US dollar. A cent is equivalent to 1/100 of the basic monetary unit. The cent sign is also used for the centavo, which is the monetary unit used in Mexico, Brazil, the Philippines, and a few other countries.
However, most people prefer to write 25 cents or $0.25, for example, instead of 25¢. This is due to the fact that most computer keyboards don’t have the cent symbol. To enter the cent sign, one must press a combination of keys on the keyboard, or insert the symbol using a computer application like Microsoft Word.
The cent symbol is a Unicode character, which means that it can be encoded and displayed in the vast majority of computers and mobile devices. However, the cent sign may look different depending on the font used. You will notice that the appearance of the cent sign in Calibri, for example, differs from the one in Times New Roman.
Instead of simply writing the “cents” word or using the dollar sign, you can use the cent symbol instead. Most people will recognize the cent sign and know what it stands for. Keep in mind that the cent sign should be placed after the amount (e.g. 50¢), unlike with currency symbols (e.g. $0.50).
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How to Type the Cent Symbol Using Keyboard Shortcut
Probably the most dependable way to type the cent sign on your computer is to use a combination of keys on the keyboard. The keyboard shortcut for the cent symbol is Alt + 0162.
Type the cent sign or symbol by pressing the Alt key and then typing 0162 on the numeric keypad. The result is this: ¢.
The numeric keypad (or number pad) is the set of keys on the rightmost part of the Windows keyboard. You can activate the numeric keypad by tapping the Num Lock key.
How to Type the Cent Symbol in Microsoft Word
The keyboard shortcut method previously mentioned works with all computer applications. Nevertheless, Microsoft Word provides a quick and easy way to insert the cent symbol into your document.
To do this, first select the Insert tab (right next to the Home tab).
Next, click the Symbol button, and then More Symbols.
A popup dialog will appear with all the symbols you can insert in Word. Find the cent sign, select or highlight it, and then click Insert. The symbol is now inserted into your Word document.
If you have trouble looking for the cent sign, select Latin-1 Supplement in the Subset field to narrow down your choices.
For easier insertion of the cent symbol in Word, you can assign a shortcut key. Just click the Shortcut Key button after selecting the cent sign, and then enter your preferred keyboard combination. The default shortcut key for the cent sign in Word is Ctrl + /,C.
How to Type the Cent Symbol in Android
To type the cent symbol on your Android smartphone, just switch to the number and symbols keypad (usually by tapping ?123). Long-press the $ (dollar) key and you will see other currency symbols. Tap the ¢ (cent) key to insert it.
How to Type the Cent Symbol on iPhone or iPad
Inserting the cent symbol in the iPhone or iPad is similar to Android. On the iOS keyboard, switch to the numerical keypad by tapping the 123 key. Hold or long-press the $ (dollar) key and it will show other currency symbols. Finally, select the ¢ (cent) key to insert the cent sign.
How to Insert the Cent Symbol Using Character Map
If your computer or laptop keyboard doesn’t have a number pad, you can use a small Windows utility called the Character Map.
Launch the Character Map by clicking the Windows Start button (the icon on the bottom-left corner of the screen), and selecting Windows Accessories and then Character Map.
On the Character Map, search for the ¢ (cent) sign and select it. The symbol is usually located in the 5th row.
After clicking Select, click Copy. You can now paste (Ctrl + V) the symbol into an application such as Notepad or Word.
How to Type the Cent Symbol in Mac
Mac users can type the cent symbol using the keyboard shortcut Option + 4. Hold the Option key and then tap the 4 key to insert the cent sign in Mac.
How to Type the Cent Sign as HTML
If you are a web developer or programmer, you can insert the cent symbol as HTML code. Simply type ¢ to use the cent sign in your webpages.
Wrapping Up
The cent symbol has many uses particularly in the field of business and finance. Whether you’re an entrepreneur who wants to use the cent sign to price an item, or simply someone who wants to save space in your documents, you’ll learn how easy it is to type the symbol on your computer or mobile device.
If you have problems with any of the methods in this article, or if you can’t be bothered to try them, you can just simply copy the cent sign and then paste it to your document. Highlight the symbol here: ¢ and tap Ctrl + C to copy it, and then paste it to your document by pressing Ctrl + V. You can also right-click using your mouse and select Copy and then Paste.
