Here you find all special characters that are accessible via the British/American keyboard. I compiled them in groups that I find quite sensible, most important ones on the top.
Windows Input Method
On Windows, many of the characters have to be inserted by entering an alt code; press and hold alt key and enter the code with the numeric keypad – e.g. en dash = Alt + 0150.
Quotation
Character
Name
macOS
Windows
Linux
“
Opening
⌥ + [
Alt + 0147
—
”
Closing
⇧ + ⌥ + [
Alt + 0148
—
‘
Single opening
⌥ + ]
Alt + 0145
—
’
Apostrophe
⇧ + ⌥ + ]
Alt + 0146
—
«
Opening Guillemet (angle quote)
⌥ + \
Alt + 0171
—
»
Closing Guillemet (angle quote)
⌥ + ⇧ + \
Alt + 0187
—
‹
Single opening Guillemet
⇧ + ⌥ + 3
Alt + 0139
—
›
Single closing Guillemet
⇧ + ⌥ + 4
Alt + 0155
—
„
German opening
⇧ + ⌥ + W
Alt + 0132
—
‚
German single opening
⇧ + ⌥ + 0
Alt + 0130
—
Punctuation
Character
Name
macOS
Windows
Linux
-
Ascii hyphen
-
-
-
–
En Dash
⌥ + -
Alt + 0150
—
—
Em Dash
⇧ + ⌥ + -
Alt + 0151
—
…
Ellipsis
⌥ + ;
Alt + 0133
—
’
Apostrophe
⇧ + ⌥ + ]
Alt + 0146
—
·
Interpunct (interpoint, Centred point, Middle dot)
These are all accented letters available via keyboard shortcuts! You can copy/paste the most important Latin characters at our tweeting symbols article.
iOS (left) and macOS (right): by pushing and holding keys, you can access a corresponding glyph palette; e.g. in iA Writer.
Character
Name
macOS
Windows
Linux
À
A with grave
⌥ + ` + ⇧ + A
Alt + 0192
—
à
a with grave
⌥ + ` + A
Alt + 0224
—
Á
A with acute
⇧ + ⌥ + Y
Alt + 0193
—
á
a with acute
⌥ + E + A
Alt + 0225
—
Â
A with circumflex
⌥ + ⇧ + M
Alt + 0194
—
â
a with circumflex
⌥ + I + A
Alt + 0226
—
Ã
A with tilde
⌥ + N + ⇧ + A
Alt + 0195
—
ã
a with tilde
⌥ + N + A
Alt + 0227
—
Ä
A with diaeresis
⌥ + U + A
Alt + 0196
—
ä
a with diaeresis
⌥ + U + A
Alt + 0228
—
Å
A with ring
⇧ + ⌥ + A
Alt + 0197
—
å
a with ring
⌥ + A
Alt + 0229
—
Æ
AE ligature
⇧ + ⌥ + ‘
Alt + 0198
—
æ
ae ligature
⌥ + ‘
Alt + 0230
—
Ç
C with cedilla
⇧ + ⌥ + C
Alt + 0199
—
ç
c with cedilla
⌥ + C
Alt + 0231
—
È
E with grave
⌥ + ` + ⇧ + E
Alt + 0200
—
è
e with grave
⌥ + ` + E
Alt + 0232
—
É
E with acute
⌥ + E + ⇧ + E
Alt + 0201
—
é
e with acute
⌥ + E + E
Alt + 0233
—
Ê
E with circumflex
⌥ + I + ⇧ + E
Alt + 0202
—
ê
e with circumflex
⌥ + I + E
Alt + 0234
—
Ë
E with diaeresis
⌥ + U + ⇧ + E
Alt + 0203
—
ë
e with diaeresis
⌥ + U + E
Alt + 0235
—
Ì
I with grave
⌥ + ` + ⇧ + I
Alt + 0204
—
ì
i with grave
⌥ + ` + I
Alt + 0236
—
Í
I with acute
⇧ + ⌥ + S
Alt + 0205
—
í
i with acute
⌥ + E + I
Alt + 0237
—
Î
I with circumflex
⌥ + ⇧ + D
Alt + 0206
—
î
i with circumflex
⌥ + I + I
Alt + 0238
—
Ï
I with diaeresis
⇧ + ⌥ + F
Alt + 0207
—
ï
i with diaeresis
⌥ + U + I
Alt + 0239
—
ı
Dotless i
⇧ + ⌥ + B
—
—
Ñ
N with tilde
⌥ + N + ⇧ + N
Alt + 0209
—
ñ
n with tilde
⌥ + N +N
Alt + 0241
—
Ò
O with grave
⌥ + ⇧ + L
Alt + 0210
—
ò
o with grave
⌥ + ` + O
Alt + 0242
—
Ó
O with acute
⇧ + ⌥ + H
Alt + 0211
—
ó
o with acute
⌥ + E + O
Alt + 0243
—
Ô
O with circumflex
⌥ + ⇧ + J
Alt + 0212
—
ô
o with circumflex
⌥ + I + O
Alt + 0244
—
Õ
O with tilde
⌥ + N + ⇧ + O
Alt + 0213
—
õ
o with tilde
⌥ + N + O
Alt + 0245
—
Ö
O with diaeresis
⌥ + U + ⇧ + O
Alt + 0214
—
ö
o with diaeresis
⌥ + U + O
Alt + 0246
—
Ø
O with stroke (slashed O)
⇧ + ⌥ + O
Alt + 0216
—
ø
o with stroke (slashed o)
⌥ + O
Alt + 0248
—
Œ
OE ligature
⇧ + ⌥ + Q
Alt + 0140
—
œ
oe ligature
⌥ + Q
Alt + 0156
—
Š
S with caron
—
Alt + 0138
—
š
s with caron
—
Alt + 0154
—
ẞ
Capital eszett
—
Alt + 7838
—
ß
Eszett
⌥ + S
Alt + 0223
—
Ù
U with grave
⌥ + ` + ⇧ + U
Alt + 0217
—
ù
u with grave
⌥ + ` + U
Alt + 0249
—
Ú
U with acute
⌥ + ⇧ + ;
Alt + 0218
—
ú
u with acute
⌥ + E + U
Alt + 0250
—
Û
U with circumflex
⌥ + I + ⇧ + U
Alt + 0219
—
û
u with circumflex
⌥ + I + U
Alt + 0251
—
Ü
U with diaeresis
⌥ + U + ⇧ + U
Alt + 0220
—
ü
u with diaeresis
⌥ + U + U
Alt + 0252
—
Ý
Y with acute
—
Alt + 0221
—
ý
y with acute
—
Alt + 0253
—
Ÿ
Y with diaeresis
⌥ + U + ⇧ + Y
Alt + 0159
—
ÿ
y with diaeresis
⌥ + U + Y
Alt + 0255
—
Ž
Z with caron
—
Alt + 0142
—
ž
z with caron
—
Alt + 0158
—
Ð
Eth (Icelandic)
—
Alt + 0208
—
ð
eth (Icelandic)
—
Alt + 0240
—
Þ
Thorn (Icelandic)
—
Alt + 0222
—
þ
thorn (Icelandic)
—
Alt + 0254
—
`
Grave
`
`
—
´
Acute
⇧ + ⌥ + e
Alt + 0180
—
ˆ
Circumflex
⇧ + ⌥ + I
Alt + 0192
—
˜
Tilde (non-mathematical)
⇧ + ⌥ + N
Alt + 0152
—
¨
Diaeresis (Umlaut)
⇧ + ⌥ + U
Alt + 0168
—
˚
Ring accent (≠ degree °)
⌥ + K
Alt + 0000
—
ˇ
Caron
⇧ + ⌥ + T
—
—
˝
Double acute (hungarumlaut)
⇧ + ⌥ + G
—
—
˙
Dot accent
⌥ + H
—
—
¯
Macron
⇧ + ⌥ + ,
Alt + 0175
—
˘
Breve
⇧ + ⌥ + .
—
—
¸
Cedilla
⇧ + ⌥ + Z
—
—
˛
Ogonek
⇧ + ⌥ + X
—
—
Mathematical etc.
Character
Name
macOS
Windows
Linux
+
Plus
⇧ + =
⇧ + =
—
×
Multiplication
—
Alt + 0215
—
÷
Division
⌥ + /
Alt + 0247
—
=
Equals
=
=
—
≈
Almost equal to
⌥ + X
—
—
≠
Not equal
⌥ + =
—
—
≙
Estimates
—
Alt + 2259
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2259
<
Less-than
⇧ + ,
⇧ + ,
—
>
Greater-than
⇧ + .
⇧ + .
—
≤
Greater-than or equal
⌥ + .
—
—
≥
Greater-than or equal
⌥ + .
—
—
±
Plus-minus
⇧ + §
Alt + 0177
—
¦
Broken bar
—
Alt + 0166
—
^
Caret (Ascii Circumflex)
⇧ + 6
Alt + 94
—
~
tilde (mathematical)
⇧ + `
⇧ + `
—
¬
Logical Not
⌥ + L
Alt + 0172
—
µ
Micro sign (mu)
⌥ + M
Alt Gr + M
—
Ω
Ohm sign (Omega)
⌥ + Z
—
—
∆
Symmetric Difference
⌥ + J
—
—
π
pi
⌥ + P
Alt + 0227
—
∂
Partial derivative
⌥ + D
—
—
∏
Product
⇧ + ⌥ + P
—
—
∑
Summation
⌥ + W
—
—
√
Square root
⌥ + V
—
—
∞
Infinity
⌥ + 5
—
—
∫
Integral
⌥ + B
—
—
◊
Lozenge (diamond)
⇧ + ⌥ + V
—
—
⁄
Fraction slash
⇧ + ⌥ + 1
—
—
¹
Superscript 1
—
Alt + 0185
—
²
Superscript 2
—
Alt + 253
—
³
Superscript 3
—
Alt + 0179
—
¼
One quarter
—
Alt + 0188
—
½
One half
—
Alt + 0189
—
¾
Three quarters
—
Alt + 0190
—
Windows-only
Character
Name
macOS
Windows
Linux
☺
Smiley
—
Alt + 1
Strg + ⇧ + U + 263A
☻
Black smiley
—
Alt + 2
Strg + ⇧ + U + 263B
♥
Hearts (suit)
—
Alt + 3
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2665
♦
Diamonds (suit)
—
Alt + 4
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2666
♣
Clubs (suit)
—
Alt + 5
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2663
♠
Spades (suit)
—
Alt + 6
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2660
◘
Inverse bullet
—
Alt + 8
Strg + ⇧ + U + 25D8
○
White circle
—
Alt + 9
Strg + ⇧ + U + 25CB
◙
Inverse white circle
—
Alt + 10
Strg + ⇧ + U + 25D9
♂
Male sign
—
Alt + 11
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2642
♀
Female sign
—
Alt + 12
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2640
♪
Eighth note
—
Alt + 13
Strg + ⇧ + U + 266A
♫
Beamed eighth notes
—
Alt + 14
Strg + ⇧ + U + 266B
☼
Sun
—
Alt + 15
Strg + ⇧ + U + 263C
►
Black right-pointing pointer
—
Alt + 16
Strg + ⇧ + U + 25BA
◄
Black left-pointing pointer
—
Alt + 17
Strg + ⇧ + U + 25C4
↕
Up down arrow
—
Alt + 18
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2195
‼
Double exclamation mark
—
Alt + 19
Strg + ⇧ + U + 203C
▬
Black rectangle
—
Alt + 22
Strg + ⇧ + U + 25AC
↨
Up down arrow with base
—
Alt + 23
Strg + ⇧ + U + 21A8
↑
Upwards arrow
—
Alt + 24
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2191
↓
Downwards arrow
—
Alt + 25
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2193
→
Rightwards arrow
—
Alt + 26
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2192
←
Leftwards arrow
—
Alt + 27
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2190
∟
Right angle
—
Alt + 28
Strg + ⇧ + U + 221F
▲
Black up-pointing triangle
—
Alt + 30
Strg + ⇧ + U + 25B2
▼
Black down-pointing triangle
—
Alt + 31
Strg + ⇧ + U + 25BC
⌂
House
—
Alt + 127
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2302
₧
Pesetas sign
—
Alt + 158
Strg + ⇧ + U + 20A7
░
Light shade
—
Alt + 176
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2591
▒
Medium shade
—
Alt + 177
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2592
▓
Dark shade
—
Alt + 178
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2593
│
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 179
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2502
┤
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 180
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2524
╡
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 181
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2561
╢
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 182
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2562
╖
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 183
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2556
╕
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 184
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2555
╣
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 185
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2563
║
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 186
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2551
╗
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 187
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2557
╝
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 188
Strg + ⇧ + U + 255D
╜
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 189
Strg + ⇧ + U + 255C
╛
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 190
Strg + ⇧ + U + 255B
┐
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 191
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2510
└
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 192
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2514
┴
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 193
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2534
┬
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 194
Strg + ⇧ + U + 252C
├
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 195
Strg + ⇧ + U + 251C
─
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 196
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2500
┼
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 197
Strg + ⇧ + U + 253C
╞
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 198
Strg + ⇧ + U + 255E
╟
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 199
Strg + ⇧ + U + 255F
╚
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 200
Strg + ⇧ + U + 255A
╔
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 201
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2554
╩
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 202
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2569
╦
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 203
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2566
╠
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 204
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2560
═
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 205
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2550
╬
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 206
Strg + ⇧ + U + 256C
╧
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 207
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2567
╨
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 208
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2568
╤
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 209
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2564
╥
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 210
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2565
╙
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 211
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2559
╘
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 212
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2558
╒
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 213
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2552
╓
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 214
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2553
╫
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 215
Strg + ⇧ + U + 256B
╪
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 216
Strg + ⇧ + U + 256A
┘
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 217
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2518
┌
Box drawing element
—
Alt + 218
Strg + ⇧ + U + 250C
█
Full block
—
Alt + 219
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2588
▄
Lower half block
—
Alt + 220
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2584
▌
Left half block
—
Alt + 221
Strg + ⇧ + U + 258C
▐
Rigth half block
—
Alt + 222
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2590
▀
Upper half block
—
Alt + 223
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2580
α
Greek letter alpha
—
Alt + 224
Strg + ⇧ + U + 03B1
Γ
Greek letter Gamma
—
Alt + 226
Strg + ⇧ + U + 0393
Σ
Greek letter Sigma
—
Alt + 228
Strg + ⇧ + U + 03A3
σ
Greek letter sigma
—
Alt + 229
Strg + ⇧ + U + 03C3
τ
Greek letter tau
—
Alt + 231
Strg + ⇧ + U + 03C4
Φ
Greek letter Phi
—
Alt + 232
Strg + ⇧ + U + 03A6
Θ
Greek letter Theta
—
Alt + 233
Strg + ⇧ + U + 0398
δ
Greek letter delta
—
Alt + 235
Strg + ⇧ + U + 03B4
φ
Greek letter phi
—
Alt + 237
Strg + ⇧ + U + 03C6
ε
Greek letter epsilon
—
Alt + 238
Strg + ⇧ + U + 03B5
∩
Intersection
—
Alt + 239
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2229
≡
Identical to
—
Alt + 240
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2261
⌠
Top half integral
—
Alt + 244
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2320
⌡
Bottom half integral
—
Alt + 245
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2321
∙
Bullet operator
—
Alt + 249
Strg + ⇧ + U + 2219
ⁿ
Superscript n
—
Alt + 252
Strg + ⇧ + U + 207F
■
Black square
—
Alt + 254
Strg + ⇧ + U + 25A0
Hint: You can copy & paste all characters shown, even if there’s no keyboard shortcut available, like Ω on Windows.