When you are typing a formal academic essay, a complex mathematical formula, or an international business contract in Google Docs, you will frequently need to use symbols that simply do not exist on a standard QWERTY keyboard. Whether you need to insert a copyright symbol (©), a Greek letter (Ω), a trademark sign (™), or a foreign currency sign (£), you do not need to waste time scouring Google Search just to copy and paste them. Google Docs includes a massive, highly searchable library of special characters built directly into the word processor.
Accessing the Special Characters Library
The library is hidden inside the top navigation menu, away from the standard formatting toolbar.
- Open your document in Google Docs.
- Place your blinking text cursor exactly where you want the symbol to appear in your paragraph.
- Click on the Insert tab located in the top menu bar.
- Select Special characters from the drop-down menu.
A large, floating dialog box will appear on your screen, displaying hundreds of symbols categorized by type.
Finding the Exact Symbol You Need
Scrolling through thousands of Wingdings and mathematical operators is incredibly tedious, so Google provides two brilliant ways to find exactly what you are looking for.
- Use the Search Bar: On the right side of the pop-up window, there is a small text box labeled “Search by keyword.” If you simply type the word Euro or Degree into this box, the library will instantly filter the results and present you with the correct symbol.
- Draw the Symbol: Directly below the search bar is a large, blank white square. You can actually use your mouse (or your finger, if you are using a touchscreen) to physically draw the shape of the symbol you want. Google’s artificial intelligence will analyze your drawing and offer the closest matching symbols on the left.
Inserting the Symbol
Once you find the correct character, simply click it once with your mouse. The dialog box will remain open, but if you look behind it, you will see that the symbol has been instantly inserted directly into your document, perfectly matching your current font size and color.