Section Symbol § in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

Annabelle AlmerLast updated: 30 July 2022

Microsoft 365,Microsoft Excel,Microsoft Office,Microsoft Office for Mac,Microsoft Outlook,Microsoft Powerpoint,Microsoft Word,MS Office,Office 2010,Office 2013,Office 2016,Office 2019,Office 2021 / Office LTSC,Office 365

Section Symbol § can be typed into Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint or Outlook. Both in Office for Windows and Office for Mac.

Section Symbol § is used for referencing numbered sections of a document, such as US legal code e.g “ 50 U.S. Code § 1861 “ .

§ in Footnotes

It can also appear as a footnote symbol when other symbols like * , † and ‡ have already been used. In the Footnote and Endnote dialog | Format | Custom Mark choose § from the Symbol selector.

How Section Symbol § looks in different fonts.

Here’s some examples of how Section Symbol § looks in common Office fonts.

Section Symbol § codes

These are the important code numbers or values you’ll need to enter the Section Symbol or §

Decimal: 0167 Hex: 00A7

Web:  &sect; or&#167; or &#x00A7;

(web codes aren’t used in Microsoft Office, we’ve included them for the sake of completeness.)

Word and Outlook

The Section Symbol § sign does NOT have an inbuilt shortcut in Word.

Use the standard Word Alt + X symbol shortcut 00A7 + Alt + X

Once in a document you can copy it to AutoCorrect and make your own shortcut.

Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

Insert | Symbols | Symbol and look for the Section Symbol symbol.

Windows

In Windows there are several shortcuts to enter the Section Symbol § character into any program, but they use a numeric keypad, not the number row above the letters.

Alt + 21

Windows Character Map

The Windows Character Map accessory in all Windows releases

Character Map has a search feature, something missing from the Insert | Symbol in Office.

MacOS and Office for Mac inserting characters

On a Mac Command + Control + Spacebar shortcut to open the Character Viewer. Search for “ Section Symbol “ and the Viewer should find the symbol you need. Despite the name Character Viewer, the Apple system tool will also insert characters into any program, including Office for Mac.