5 Ways To Insert The Section Symbol (§) In Word (or Excel)

Need to insert or type the Section symbol (§) in Microsoft Word but can’t find it on your keyboard? Whether you’re working on legal documents, referencing numbered sections, or formatting codes, this guide will show you exactly how to type or insert the section sign across Windows, Mac, Word, Excel, and web platforms.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn:

• The fastest keyboard shortcuts (like Alt + 0167 on Windows or Option + 6 on Mac)
• How to use Word’s built-in Symbol dialog
• How to set up AutoCorrect for faster typing
• And how to copy and paste the § symbol instantly

No matter which method you prefer, you’ll have the § sign inserted in seconds — and this same approach works for many other special characters too.

Let’s dive in.

Quick Reference: Section Symbol (§) Shortcuts and Codes

Here’s a quick overview of all the ways to type or insert the Section sign (§) on any platform. Use this table as your go-to if you’re short on time and just need the method that works for your setup.

Platform	Method	Shortcut / Code	Works In
Windows	Alt Code (Numpad)	Alt + 0167 or Alt + 21	Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Notepad, etc.
Windows (Word)	Unicode Shortcut	00A7, then Alt + X	Word, Outlook
Mac	Keyboard Shortcut	Option + 6	Word, Pages, Google Docs, most apps
Mac	Character Viewer	Manual insert	All macOS apps
Word	Insert > Symbol Dialog	Latin-1 Supplement → §	Word only
Word	AutoCorrect	e.g. #sec → §	Word only
Excel/Google Sheets	Alt Code / CHAR formula	Alt + 0167 or =CHAR(167)	Excel/Google Sheets cells
Google Docs	Special Characters Tool	Search “Section”	Google Docs
Any Platform	Copy & Paste	§	Universal
Web / HTML	HTML Entity	§ or §	Websites, blogs, WordPress

§ Copy Section Symbol Copied!

What is the Section Symbol?

The section sign (§) is a typographical glyph for referencing individual numbered sections of a document, frequently used when referring to legal code. Source: Wikipedia

Some symbols are easy to find on the keyboard and can be inserted quickly using simple key combinations.

Others, like the Section symbol (§), aren’t visible on standard keyboards and don’t have obvious shortcuts. This can make typing them feel slow and frustrating, especially if you need to insert them often.

But it doesn’t have to be difficult. After going through this guide, inserting or typing the Section symbol (and others like it) will be quick and effortless.

How to Type the Section Symbol on Windows

If you’re using a Windows computer, there are a few easy ways to type the Section symbol (§) — even though it’s not visible on the keyboard. Below are the best methods to get it done quickly in Word, Excel, Notepad, or anywhere else on Windows.

✅ Method 1: Use the Alt Code (with Numeric Keypad)

This is the most common method and works in almost any Windows app.

Steps:

1. Place your cursor where you want the symbol to appear.
2. Make sure Num Lock is turned on.
3. Hold down the Alt key on your keyboard.
4. While holding Alt, type 0167 or 21 on the numeric keypad.
5. Release the Alt key — the § symbol will appear.

Examples:

• Alt + 0167 → §
• Alt + 21 → § (works in many apps)

🧑‍💻 What If You Don’t Have a Numeric Keypad?

On laptops without a numeric keypad:

• Option 1: Enable the hidden numpad:
  • Look for small numbers printed on certain keys (usually on the right side of the keyboard).
  • Press Fn + NumLk to activate it.
  • Then use Alt + 0167 as usual.
• Option 2: Use the On-Screen Keyboard:
  1. Press Windows key + R, type osk, and hit Enter.
  2. Click Options, then enable the numeric keypad.
  3. Use Alt + 0167 on the virtual keypad.

✅ Method 2: Use Unicode Shortcut (in Microsoft Word)

If you’re working in Microsoft Word, you can insert the § symbol using its Unicode:

Steps:

1. Type this: 00A7
2. Then press Alt + X

Word will convert the code into the Section symbol (§).

📝 This only works in Word and Outlook. Other apps may not recognize the Alt + X command.

How to Type the Section Symbol on Mac

Typing the Section symbol (§) on a Mac is quick and easy — in fact, macOS has a built-in shortcut that works across most apps without needing to dig through menus or settings.

✅ Method 1: Use the Mac Keyboard Shortcut

Steps:

1. Click where you want to insert the Section symbol.
2. Press Option (⌥) + 6 on your keyboard.

That’s it! The § symbol will appear instantly.

💡 This shortcut works in nearly all Mac applications, including Microsoft Word, Pages, Notes, Google Docs, email apps, and web forms.

✅ Method 2: Use the macOS Character Viewer

If the keyboard shortcut doesn’t work or you’re using a different layout, you can also insert the Section symbol manually using the Character Viewer.

Steps:

1. Click where you want the symbol.
2. Press Control + Command + Spacebar to open the emoji/symbol viewer.
3. In the search bar, type “section”.
4. Click the § symbol to insert it.

🧠 You can also click the gear icon to add this symbol to your favorites for easier access next time.

🧩 Troubleshooting Tips

If Option + 6 doesn’t insert the Section symbol:

• Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources and check that your keyboard is set to U.S. or British layout.
• Try the Character Viewer method above as a reliable fallback.

How to Insert the Section Symbol in Word Using the Symbol Dialog

Microsoft Word offers a built-in Symbol dialog that makes it easy to insert symbols like the Section sign (§) — even if it’s not on your keyboard.

Here’s how to find and insert it in just a few steps.

✅ Steps to Insert the Section Symbol (§)

1. Open your Word document and place your cursor where you want the symbol.
2. Go to the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
3. Click Symbol (far right), then choose More Symbols…

From here, you can use either of these approaches:

Option A: Use the Special Characters tab

• Click on the Special Characters tab.
• Scroll through the list and find Section.
• Click Insert, then Close.

Option B: Use the Symbols tab with Unicode filtering

• Click on the Symbols tab.
• Set Subset to Latin-1 Supplement (top right).
• Set From to Unicode (hex) (bottom right).
• Look for the § symbol in the grid.
• Select it and click Insert, or double-click to insert instantly.

Then close the Symbol dialog. The § symbol should now appear in your document.

💡 Once inserted, you can copy and paste the symbol anywhere, or assign it to an AutoCorrect shortcut (which we’ll cover next).

How to Use AutoCorrect to Insert the Section Symbol (§)

If you find yourself typing the Section symbol (§) often, you can create a shortcut in Word so it inserts automatically whenever you type a specific code — like SECSYM or #sec.

This is made possible by Word’s AutoCorrect feature, originally designed to fix spelling mistakes (like changing “teh” to “the”), but also useful for inserting symbols.

✅ Steps to Set Up AutoCorrect for the Section Symbol

1. Open Microsoft Word and place your cursor anywhere.
2. Go to the Insert tab, then click Symbol → More Symbols…
3. In the Symbol dialog, locate and click on the § (Section) symbol.
4. Click the AutoCorrect… button.
5. In the AutoCorrect dialog:
   • Under Replace, type a shortcut like SECSYM or #sec
   • Under With, the § symbol should already appear (or paste it manually)
6. Click Add, then OK, and close the dialog boxes.

Now, whenever you type SECSYM and press spacebar or Enter, Word will automatically replace it with the § symbol.

🧠 Tips for Using AutoCorrect Effectively

• AutoCorrect is case-sensitive. SECSYM will work, but secsym will not unless you create both versions.
• Don’t use a real word like “section” as your shortcut — Word will replace it every time, even when you don’t want the symbol.
• You can use any memorable code, like #sec, @s, or xxs, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your normal typing.

💡 This feature only works in Microsoft Word — not in Excel, Google Docs, or web apps.

How to Insert the Section Symbol in Excel, PowerPoint, and Access

Even though the Section symbol (§) is often used in Word, you can also insert it easily into Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint slides, and Access databases using the same techniques.

✅ Method 1: Use the Alt Code (Windows)

This method works in all Office applications — as long as you’re using a Windows PC with a numeric keypad.

Steps:

1. Click into the cell (in Excel), text box (in PowerPoint), or field (in Access) where you want the symbol.
2. Turn on Num Lock.
3. Hold down the Alt key.
4. Type 0167 (or 21) on the numeric keypad.
5. Release the Alt key — the § symbol will appear.

💡 If you’re using a laptop without a numeric keypad, enable it with Fn + NumLk or use the On-Screen Keyboard.

✅ Method 2: Use the Symbol Dialog

Just like in Word, you can use the Insert > Symbol feature.

Excel:

1. Go to Insert > Symbol
2. Set the Subset dropdown to Latin-1 Supplement
3. Look for the § symbol, click it, and press Insert

PowerPoint:

1. Click into a text box or shape.
2. Go to Insert > Symbol
3. Follow the same steps as in Excel.

Access:

• In design or form view, place your cursor in a text field and use Alt + 0167, or paste the symbol if inserting from Word.

✅ Method 3: Use CHAR Function in Excel

You can also use a formula to generate the Section symbol in Excel:

=CHAR(167)

This will display the § symbol in the cell. However, this is for display only — you can’t format or calculate with it.

✅ Method 4: Copy and Paste

The easiest universal method:

1. Copy this: §
2. Paste it into your Excel cell, PowerPoint text box, or Access field using Ctrl + V

💡 Once pasted, it behaves like any regular text character.

How to Insert the Section Symbol (§) in HTML and on Websites

If you’re working with HTML, WordPress, or any kind of web content, you can’t just press Alt + 0167 to insert the Section symbol. Instead, you’ll need to use special HTML character entities that browsers can understand.

✅ Use These HTML Codes for the Section Symbol

Code Type	Code	Displays As
Named Entity	§	§
Numeric Entity	§	§
Unicode Hex Entity	§	§

💻 Where You Can Use These:

• In raw HTML pages
• In WordPress block editors (using Custom HTML blocks)
• In email templates
• In web apps or form fields that accept HTML

🧪 Example:

<p>Refer to Section&nbsp;&sect;3 of the contract.</p>

This will render as:

Refer to Section §3 of the contract.

💡 The &nbsp; adds a non-breaking space to prevent awkward line breaks between the word and the symbol.

Conclusion

The Section symbol (§) may not be visible on your keyboard, but as you’ve seen, there are many easy ways to insert it — whether you’re using Windows, Mac, Microsoft Word, Excel, or even working in HTML.

To recap:

• Use Alt + 0167 or Alt + 21 on Windows.
• Press Option + 6 on Mac.
• Insert it through Word’s Symbol dialog or set up an AutoCorrect shortcut.
• Use Excel’s CHAR(167) formula or the Symbol menu.
• Copy and paste it directly, or use HTML entities like &sect;.

Now that you know all the options, choose the one that works best for your workflow — and don’t forget to bookmark this guide for future reference.