If you want to know how to write the diameter symbol , you’ve come to the right place. This is a very old symbol, which continues to be used in mathematical formulas today. It is drawn as Ø or ø and here we will teach you how to write it on your keyboard.
And while it is true that you can copy and paste it, if you find yourself doing math work, it can be cumbersome to be copying and pasting all the time . That is why it is easier to know how to write it directly on the keyboard . To begin, we are going to focus on the use of this symbol, as well as other aspects of interest.
History of the diameter symbol (Ø or ø)
The diameter symbol is represented by a circle intercepted by a forward slash . And although its origins are a bit vague, some historians agree that it arose from a fusion of the letter “oe” as an abbreviation . However, opinion is divided. Other experts in the field assure that its origins come from Anglo-Saxon England, where the fusion occurred between the “o” and the “i” , to later spread to Scandinavia and the Nordic countries.
Today, the diameter symbol is still a letter used in Norse languages, as well as in certain areas of Africa . It is common for some people to refer to it with terms like “or with a bar” or “or cross”, but this symbol has its own name. Its pronunciation is similar to “er”/”or”, but it takes practice to pronounce it correctly.
Use of the diameter symbol in other disciplines
The diameter symbol is more popular than you might think. It is often used in both mathematics and other sciences for a variety of specificities. Some of them are:
- In logic and mathematics, it is used to represent the empty set (although the symbol is slightly different, this is generally used).
- To represent the diameter of a circle. Another common use of this symbol, not to write the word diameter.
- In Germanic-speaking countries, it is often used to represent the mean.
- Second representation of 0to differentiate it from O. Teachers of mathematics and subjects that have to do with telecommunications often use it to make this distinction.
- Special symbol used in sheet musicto denote some specific characteristics of the song.
As you can see, this is a symbol that is often used quite a lot in different fields , and with different purposes.
How to write the diameter symbol?
There are three different ways to write the diameter symbol . But one of them will be difficult to do if you do not live in certain countries.
First form
The first way is to have a specific keyboard, where the key is located directly. These keyboards are only Danish and some are German-speaking , as this symbol is commonly used in these areas.
second form
Next, we have another way to write the diameter symbol, and this is by using tools that offer you such a symbol. Microsoft Office and some similar programs have an “Insert” section, where you can insert “Symbols”. This way, all you have to do is find the diameter symbol and click on it to type it.
Now, if you’re typing in an app that doesn’t have such a feature, you can open Word, type the symbol, copy and paste it . But this can be somewhat tedious.
third form
The third way to write the diameter symbol is the easiest of all if you are familiar with the combination. For her, all you have to do is use the ASCII contraction on the keyboard. Of course, you will need a numeric keyboard , or what is the same, a keyboard that is full size and has the numbers on the right.
That said, all you have to do is hold down “Alt” and press in sequence 0216 (Ø), 0248(ø), 157 (Ø) or 155 (ø) . When you finish typing the numbers, release the «Alt» key and the symbol will appear automatically.
You may not even know it, but we are constantly using the ASCII keyboard for a myriad of things, as it contains a huge number of letters and symbols. To make use of it, you just have to use the method that we described, pressing Alt in the company of other combinations . The following table will help you:
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Final words on Ø and ø
For some people, there are only a few symbols that they know by sight or from dead languages. However, there are languages far outside of Spanish and English that incorporate these letters into their vocabularies on a day-to-day basis. In addition, there are disciplines where these symbols are used for countless purposes.
In addition, they are also often represented in title names, such as musical bands that use these letters to give their songs a unique style . An example of this could be the band Twenty Øne Pilots.
Finally, we hope that our guide has helped you for future jobs where you need to write the diameter symbol.