How to Type the Plus-Minus Sign (±) on a Mac

If you work with math, science, engineering, or statistics, you’ve probably needed the plus-minus sign (±) more than once. It’s the go-to symbol for expressing margins, tolerances, and measurement uncertainties — think of something like a battery rated at 3,000mAh ± 50. If you’re on a Mac and find yourself hunting for this character, you’re in the right place. Here are the easiest ways to get it done.

What Is the Plus-Minus Sign Used For?

Before jumping into the how, it’s worth knowing why this symbol matters. The ± sign shows up in a surprisingly wide range of situations:

• Expressing measurement tolerances in technical or engineering specs
• Showing statistical margins of error (e.g., a poll result of 52% ± 3%)
• Writing physics or math formulas where both a positive and negative solution exist
• Indicating acceptable deviation ranges in manufacturing or quality control

It’s a compact, universally understood symbol — and on a Mac, getting it into your text is easier than you might think.

How to Type the Plus-Minus Sign on a Mac

The Fastest Way: Keyboard Shortcut

If you need the ± symbol regularly, this is the method worth memorizing. Just press the following keys simultaneously:

Option (⌥) + Shift (⇧) + =

That’s it. The symbol appears instantly wherever your cursor is placed. No menus, no mouse clicks — just a quick three-key combo and you’re done.

Using macOS’s Built-In Character Viewer

macOS includes a built-in emoji and symbols panel that gives you access to hundreds of special characters, including ±. Here’s how to use it:

1. Click to place your cursor where you want the symbol to appear
2. Press Control (⌃) + Command (⌘) + Space to open the Character Viewer
3. In the search bar, type plus minus or simply ±
4. Double-click the symbol to insert it into your text

This method is especially handy if you’re not sure about keyboard shortcuts or need to browse for other special characters at the same time.

Copy and Paste

Sometimes the simplest solution is the best one. If you only need the symbol occasionally, just copy it directly from here:

±

This works across virtually any app on your Mac — whether you’re in Microsoft Word, Excel, Apple Pages, Google Docs, or WordPress. Just paste it in and move on.

Using the Plus-Minus Sign in WordPress

Good news if you’re a WordPress user: the ± symbol works without any issues in the editor. You can paste it directly into a text block, use it inside headings, add it to tables, or place it anywhere in your content. It works in both the visual (block) editor and the HTML editor.

For example, a sentence like “The component measures 15 ± 0.5 mm” will display perfectly on the front end without any extra formatting needed. WordPress uses UTF-8 character encoding by default, which supports the full range of Unicode characters including ±.

Troubleshooting: Symbol Not Displaying Correctly?

In rare cases, the plus-minus sign might not render properly. Here are a few things to check:

• Font support: Make sure the font you’re using supports special characters. Most modern fonts do, but some decorative or custom fonts may not include the full Unicode character set.
• Character encoding: Your website or document should be using UTF-8 encoding. On WordPress, this is the default, so it shouldn’t be an issue in most cases.
• Re-insert the symbol: If a pasted symbol looks broken, try removing it and reinserting it using the macOS Character Viewer or the keyboard shortcut instead.

Quick Reference Summary

Here’s a fast overview of all three methods so you can bookmark or refer back to this easily:

• Keyboard shortcut: Option + Shift + = → types ± instantly
• Character Viewer: Control + Command + Space → search “plus minus” → double-click
• Copy and paste: Just grab ± from anywhere and paste it where needed

Whichever method fits your workflow, typing the plus-minus sign on a Mac is genuinely straightforward once you know your options. The keyboard shortcut is the quickest for everyday use, while the Character Viewer is great when you’re exploring other symbols at the same time.