Today, we’re going to talk about a useful feature in Microsoft Office that you might not know about: how to add plus-minus, less than and greater than symbols to your documents easily.
Less Than and Greater Than Symbols
If you need to use less than or greater than symbols in your Word document, there are several ways to add them. Here are three options:
Option 1: Use the Insert Tab
To add a less than or greater than symbol in Word, go to the Insert tab and click on “Symbol”. From there, select “More Symbols”. In the Symbols dialog box, choose “Mathematical Operators” from the Subset dropdown and choose the symbol you want to add.
This method also works in Excel and PowerPoint.
Option 2: Use Keyboard Shortcuts
If you use less than or greater than symbols frequently, it might be faster to use keyboard shortcuts. The shortcut for less than symbol is “Alt + 60” and the shortcut for greater than symbol is “Alt + 62”.
Option 3: Copy and Paste
If all else fails, you can always copy and paste the symbols from another source, such as a website or another document.
Plus-Minus Symbol
If you need to add a plus-minus symbol to your Word document, there are also several ways to do so.
Option 1: Use the Insert Tab
Similar to adding less than and greater than symbols, you can use the Insert tab in Word to add a plus-minus symbol. Go to the Insert tab and click on “Symbol”. From there, select “More Symbols”. In the Symbols dialog box, choose “Mathematical Operators” from the Subset dropdown and choose the plus-minus symbol.
Option 2: Use the Equations Tool
Another way to add a plus-minus symbol is to use the Equations tool in Word. Go to the Insert tab and click on “Equation”. From there, choose “More Symbols” and select the plus-minus symbol.
Option 3: Copy and Paste
If you have trouble using the Insert tab or Equations tool, you can always copy and paste the plus-minus symbol from another source.
FAQ
Q: Why would I need to use less than, greater than, or plus-minus symbols in my document?
A: These symbols are commonly used in math and science documents to represent inequalities and approximate values. They can also be used in other contexts, such as in presentations or reports.
Q: Is there a way to add these symbols to my keyboard so I don’t have to use the Insert tab or Equations tool?
A: Yes, you can add these symbols to your keyboard by creating a custom shortcut key. Go to the File tab and choose “Options”. From there, select “Customize Ribbon” and click on “Keyboard Shortcuts”. In the Categories dropdown, choose “All Commands”. Find the command for the symbol you want to add (such as “Less Than”) and click on the box next to “Press new shortcut key”. Then, press the combination of keys you want to use as a shortcut (such as “Ctrl + Shift + L”). Finally, click “Assign” and “OK” to save your new shortcut.
Video Tutorial
If you prefer to learn by watching, here’s a helpful video tutorial:
Conclusion
Now you know how to add less than, greater than, and plus-minus symbols to your Word documents. Whether you prefer using the Insert tab, Equations tool, or keyboard shortcuts, these symbols can help make your documents more professional and accurate.
