Enter approximate characters using the keyboard - how it works

In this practical tip, we will explain how to enter the approximate character on your Windows PC. This is mainly used for mathematical formulas.

Enter approximate characters: These options are available

The approximate or rounded sign ≈ is mainly used in mathematics. It is used when a number is given rounded. The correct use is as: "unrounded number" ≈ "rounded number".

• Examples: 15.11 ≈ 15 or 53.4 ≈ 53. The character does not belong to the German keyboard layout, but can of course still be entered.
• Type " characters" in the search box on the Windows 10 taskbar and click Character Map in the search results. Find the character ≈, copy it to the clipboard and paste it into your document. The code position of the character is: U + 2248.
• Alternatively, simply copy and paste the symbol ≈ from this practical tip into your document.
• Another way is to enter the corresponding character code. However, this does not work in all programs: Press the [Alt] key (to the left of the space bar), hold it down and enter the number combination 8776 on the numeric keypad. Then release [Alt] .
• If you are working with an HTML document, enter the character ≈ using this HTML code: ≈ or ≈ (decimal) or ≈ (hexadecimal).

Risk of confusion: the tilde

The tilde symbol ~ is also often used in documents to indicate an approximate numerical value.

• However, this is not entirely correct mathematically because the sign expresses proportionality . You can easily write the tilde using a German keyboard:
• Press the key combination [Alt Gr] + [~] . Note that [Alt Gr] is to the right of the spacebar. The [~] key is placed between the [Ü] and the [Enter] key.

In the video: Insert special characters in Word - practical tip

In the next practical tip, we will show you how to enter the approximate character in Mac OS.