Using inline symbols in text

Help
1

I am not sure how to word this request. I am trying to add symbols the degree symbol, TM for trademark, Circle-C for copywrite, TM for trademarketc. I tried searching the Obsidian forum for help on this. Any help would be appreciated.

2

On mac you can use built in Character Viewer or Raycast’s Emoji & Symbols.

 

On windows there is similar feature:

3

The task of inputting typographic symbols, such as the degree (°), trademark (™), and copyright (©), is not the responsibility of the Obsidian application, but rather a fundamental function of the underlying operating system. Consequently, the methods for typing these characters vary significantly across different operating systems.

1. Windows Operating System

  • Alt Codes via Numeric Keypad: This method requires a physical numeric keypad and involves holding the Alt key while typing a 4-digit decimal code.
    • Degree (°): The code Alt + 0176 requires 4 keystrokes plus 1 modifier .
    • Trademark (™): The code Alt + 0153 requires 4 keystrokes plus 1 modifier .
    • Copyright (©): The code Alt + 0169 requires 4 keystrokes plus 1 modifier .
  • Emoji and Symbols Panel: Pressing the Win key and the period key simultaneously (2 keystrokes) opens a graphical interface for inserting symbols .
  • Microsoft Word AutoFormat: Within Microsoft Word, typing (c) automatically converts the 3-character string into the 1-character copyright symbol .

2. macOS Operating System

  • Option Key Shortcuts: macOS provides highly efficient shortcuts utilizing the Option (Alt) modifier, reducing the input time to just 2 or 3 keystrokes per symbol.
    • Trademark (™): The shortcut Option + 2 requires exactly 2 keystrokes .
    • Copyright (©): The shortcut Option + G requires exactly 2 keystrokes .
    • Degree (°): The shortcut Option + Shift + 8 requires exactly 3 keystrokes .
  • Character Viewer: Pressing Control + Command + Spacebar (3 keystrokes) opens the Character Viewer, allowing users to search for and insert symbols .

3. Linux Operating System

  • Compose Key Sequences: Linux utilizes a configurable “Compose” key followed by a 2-keystroke sequence, resulting in a highly efficient 3-keystroke input method.
    • Degree (°): The sequence Compose + o + o generates the degree symbol .
    • Copyright (©): The sequence Compose + o + c generates the copyright symbol .
    • Trademark (™): The sequence Compose + t + m generates the trademark symbol .
  • Unicode Hex Input: Pressing Ctrl + Shift + U, releasing the keys, typing the 4-digit hex code, and pressing Enter requires 7 keystrokes but works universally across all Linux environments.
  • Third layer keys: Pressing 3_layer_key + d for °, + t for ™ and + c for ©.

4. Mobile Operating Systems (iOS and Android)

  • Long-Press Interaction: Mobile keyboards utilize a long-press (sustained touch of approximately 0.5 seconds) on specific keys to reveal a pop-up menu of typographic variants.
    • Degree (°): Long-pressing the 0 (zero) key on the virtual numeric keyboard yields the degree symbol.
    • Copyright (©) and Trademark (™): Long-pressing the C or T keys on iOS, or navigating to the secondary symbols menu on Android, provides these characters.
4

@LemeRus Did you verify that these all actually work? (The Linux ones especially seem like they might vary depending on which Linux)?

5

On Mac, it might also depend on the keyboard …
I mean, on my MacBook Pro:

  • Degree (°) is Shift + )
  • Trademark (™) is Option + Shift + t
  • Copyright (©) is Option + c
6

For linux and windows yes. For android only for my phone (mi 12 lite), not all virtual keyboards work same. Mac — no, but for some locales this seems true.

7

OK. Please don’t post unverified AI output. Thanks!

8

thank you

9

I do not care whether or not it is the responsibility of Obsidian. This is not a legal forum, rather a forum where users can help others.

Now, with that said, thank you for the help in understanding how I would go about inserting these symbols. I tried to search the web and got nothing on what i was looking for. A simple request that AI driven algorithms over complicate life at times. Back in my Unix, MAC and DOS days, I had cheat charts for each of my separate systems. My word processing applications had these symbols built-in. My digital typesetter integrated symbols into my technical documents.

I am using Obsidian on a MacAir, a Windows PC and three phones: two android, and one iPhone. “Sometimes”, I get a senior moment or two…

Your robust reply is most appreciated.

I will put it on an “index card” for reference.

testing: ™, ©, °. (using a MacAir - wow, how satisfyingly easy. :slight_smile: )

Thanks again

10

Thank blue_emperor,

I don’t use Emogi’s much aside a simple smile or two. I am working with technical (scientific and engineering) documents. I’ll be sure to hand on to your answer. I am sure it will come in handy in the future.

11

On raycast if you search “symbols”, you will see this

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I have also set global keyboard shortcut for Emoji & Symbols which is ⌃⌘Space. I use ⌘Space to open Raycast.

In Emoji & Symbols you can search by keyword:

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In the default view you get frequently used symbols:

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If your symbol is not found then you can use unicodeplus.com etc to find your symbol and then store it in raycast snippets. For example I use U+00A0 (no break space), U+2011 (non breaking hypen), U+205F (medium mathematical space), U+2009 (thin space), U+200A (hair space). Thin and hair space is not always rendered properly across different software. If you use LaTeX/MathJax, then proper spacing happens automatically or with LaTeX specific syntax.