How to Type the Section Sign (§): Complete Guide

The section sign (§) is a widely used symbol in legal documents, legislation and academic texts. This special character refers to a specific section or paragraph within a document. In this article we explain how to type the section sign on any device and in any situation.

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Typing the section sign (§) on Windows

There are several ways to type the section sign on Windows:

Method 1: Alt code (numeric keypad)

1. Make sure Num Lock is on
2. Hold down the Alt key
3. Type 0167 on the numeric keypad
4. Release the Alt key

Method 2: Alternative Alt code

1. Hold down the Alt key
2. Type 21 on the numeric keypad
3. Release the Alt key

Method 3: Character Map

1. Open the Start menu and search for "Character Map"
2. Select the font you are working in
3. Find the § symbol in the table
4. Click "Select" and then "Copy"
5. Paste the character into your document

Typing the section sign (§) on Mac

On a Mac the section sign is easy to type:

Keyboard shortcut

Press Option + 6 to type the § sign.

With the Character Viewer

1. Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer
2. Search for "section" or "paragraph"
3. Double-click the § symbol to insert it

Typing the section sign (§) on Linux

On Linux there are several methods:

Method 1: Unicode input

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + U
2. Type 00A7
3. Press Enter or Space

Method 2: Compose key

If you have configured a Compose key:

1. Press the Compose key
2. Type s and then o
3. The § sign appears

Typing the section sign (§) on iPhone and iPad

With the keyboard

1. Open the keyboard in a text field
2. Tap the 123 key for numbers and symbols
3. Press and hold the & key
4. Slide to the § symbol and release

With text replacement

1. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement
2. Tap the + sign
3. Enter § under "Phrase" and a shortcut such as "ssec" under "Shortcut"
4. Now type the shortcut to insert the character automatically

Typing the section sign (§) on Android

With the symbols menu

1. Open the keyboard
2. Tap ?123 or the symbols icon
3. Tap =< for more symbols
4. Find and tap the § sign

With a long press

On some keyboards:

1. Press and hold the S key
2. Select the § symbol from the pop-up menu

Typing the section sign (§) in Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Microsoft Word

1. Go to the Insert tab
2. Click Symbol > More Symbols
3. Select the § sign and click Insert
4. Or use the shortcut: Alt + 0167

Microsoft Excel

1. Select the cell where you want the character
2. Use Alt + 0167 on the numeric keypad
3. Or copy the character from another source

Microsoft PowerPoint

1. Go to Insert > Symbol
2. Find the § sign in the list
3. Click Insert

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why doesn't Alt+0167 work on my laptop?

If your laptop has no separate numeric keypad, you often have to use the Fn key together with the numbers printed on the letter keys. Try Fn + Alt + 0167 with the numbers on the J, K, L, U, I, O keys.

Can I copy and paste the section sign?

Yes, you can copy the character here: §. Select it and press Ctrl+C (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+C (Mac) to copy it.

What is the difference between § and ¶?

The § (section sign) refers to a paragraph or section in legal documents. The ¶ (pilcrow) is the typographic symbol for a paragraph of text and is mainly used in word processing.

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