The half symbol is used to describe one of two equal parts of a whole. It is a fraction that is used mostly in math problems, conversations, quantifying things, and more. There are numerous ways to add the half symbol on the keyboard. The half symbol can be inserted into a document by using the Shortcut keys, Character map, Character viewer, and more. The easiest way to add the half symbol is by copying and pasting it from the internet.
How to Add Half Symbol (½) on Windows PC
1. Shortcut Keys
The easiest way to enter the Half symbol is by using the shortcut keys. The shortcut key for the Half symbol is Alt + 0189. Press and hold the Alt key. Then, type the number 0189 on the Num Pad to insert the half symbol.
2. Character Map
You can copy and paste the half symbol with the help of a Character Map.
[1] Click on the Search icon on the taskbar.
[2] Search for Character Map and select it.
[3] On the Character Map menu, click the box near the option Advanced View.
[4] Search for the Half Symbol and double-click it.
[5] Now, tap the Copy button to copy the symbol.
[6] Navigate to a document and place the cursor to type the half symbol.
[7] Press the Ctrl+V keys on the keyboard to paste the half symbol.
3. Symbols Dialog Box (MS Word, Excel, and Powerpoint)
[1] Launch Microsoft Word, Excel, or Powerpoint on your Windows PC.
[2] Now, navigate to the Insert tab.
[3] Click on the Symbol option.
[4] Now, select More Symbol from the drop-down menu.
[5] A new menu with special characters will open. The half symbol will be in the Subset: Latin-1 Supplement category.
[6] Choose the ½ symbol and click on Insert.
4. Set a Shortcut using the AutoCorrect option (MS Word)
AutoCorrect is the spell-checking feature of MS Word. It can be used as a workaround to insert the Half symbol. For the Half symbol, we will set HLF as an Autocorrect code. Whenever you type HLF, it will be autocorrected to the Half symbol (½).
[1]. Open the MS Word and click the Insert tab at the top.
[2]. Tap the option Symbol and select More Symbols.
[3]. Locate and tap the Half symbol.
[4]. Select the AutoCorrect option at the bottom.
[5]. On the AutoCorrect menu, enter the code HLF in the box placed under Replace.
[6]. Select Add and then click OK.
[7]. Now, type HLF and press Enter or Space key to get Half Symbol (½).
How to Type Half Symbol (½) on MacBook
The shortcut key for the Half symbol ½ is Option + 00BD.
Character Viewer
[1]. On your Mac, press the keys Control+Command+Spacebar at the same time to open the Character Viewer.
[2] Tap the option Math symbols on the sidebar.
[3]. Locate and select the ½ symbol. Then, click Done to add it.
How to Insert the Half Symbol (½) on Android Smartphone
[1] Open a document and place the cursor where you want to add the ½ symbol.
[2] Press and hold the number 1 key.
[3] A new section with many fractions will appear.
[4] Drag your finger to the ½ symbol and select it.
How to Insert the Half Symbol (½) on iPhone & iPad
To add ½ symbol on your iOS devices, follow the steps mentioned below.
[1] Launch the Settings app on your device.
[2] Tap the option General and select Keyboard.
[3] Look for the option Text Replacement and click it.
[4] Click the + icon in the top right corner.
[5] Type the half symbol (1/2) in the Phrase box.
[6] Then, enter a shortcut for the half symbol in the Shortcut box.
[7] Finally, tap Save.
[8] Now, enter the shortcut key on any document to get the Half symbol.
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Frequently Asked Questions
There are different ways to type the half symbol on Windows PC. Using the shortcut keys Alt + 0189, you can easily type the half symbol on Windows.
Press the Option key, and the code 00BD on your keyboard to add the Half symbol on Mac.
Yes. By using the text replacement feature, you can type the Half symbol on your iPhone.