Office apps have their own shortcuts for dots, and in spreadsheets you can even make dots with a formula.
Copy
•
Microsoft Word
- Alt X trick: type the Unicode number, then press Alt + X. 2022 gives •, 00B7 gives ·, 25CF gives ●.
- Alt code: Alt + 0149 (•) or 0183 (·) on the numeric keypad.
- Insert → Symbol → More Symbols: set "from" to Unicode (hex) and type the code in "Character code".
- Bulleted list: type * + space at the start of a line, or press Ctrl + Shift + L to apply the List Bullet style.
Excel
- Alt codes work in cells: Alt + 0149 for •, or Alt + 7.
- Formula:
=CHAR(149)returns • in Excel for Windows. For any character, use=UNICHAR(8226)(•) or=UNICHAR(183)(·). - To start every cell in a column with a bullet:
="• "&A1. - Custom number format: Format Cells → Custom →
"• "@shows a bullet in front of text without changing the value.
Google Docs
- Ctrl + Shift + 8 (Cmd on Mac) turns lines into a bulleted list.
- Insert → Special characters: search "bullet" or "middle dot", or type the code such as U+2022.
- You can also draw the symbol in the special-characters search box and Docs finds it.
Google Sheets
=CHAR(8226)returns •. In Sheets, CHAR uses Unicode numbers, so=CHAR(183)gives ·.- Join it with text:
=CHAR(8226)&" "&A1.
Codes for common dots
| Dot | Unicode | Word (then Alt+X) | Excel / Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| • | U+2022 | 2022 | =UNICHAR(8226) |
| · | U+00B7 | 00B7 | =UNICHAR(183) |
| ● | U+25CF | 25CF | =UNICHAR(9679) |
| ○ | U+25CB | 25CB | =UNICHAR(9675) |
| … | U+2026 | 2026 | =UNICHAR(8230) |
Questions
Why does =CHAR(149) show a different symbol in Google Sheets?
Excel's CHAR uses the Windows-1252 table, where 149 is •. Google Sheets' CHAR uses Unicode, so you need =CHAR(8226) there.
How do I type a dot in the middle of a line in Word?
Type 00B7 and press Alt+X, or use Alt+0183 on the numeric keypad.
Does Alt+X work in Google Docs?
No, Alt+X is a Microsoft Word feature. In Google Docs use Insert → Special characters.