Based on a Writing Tip I wrote for my work colleagues…
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Below is a scanned image of a page from the Australian Style Manual, detailing how to deal with spans of numbers and other numbering conventions (click on it to view it larger).

Some of the terms used on this page maybe unfamiliar to you, so here’s an explanation of those terms (plus some others), along with the Microsoft Word (for Windows) keyboard commands to insert them, where available.
Please note: Keyboard numerals and other keys with an asterisk (*) can ONLY be used on the numeric keypad, NOT the numbers across the top of the keyboard, and if there’s an Alt prefix, you must hold down the Alt key while pressing the numbers in sequence.
Term |
Looks like |
How to get it (menu) |
How to get it (keyboard) |
Notes |
Hyphen, dash, subtraction |
– |
(standard keys) |
(standard keys) |
Use a hyphen for separating hyphenated words, such as compound adjectives, e.g. five-year plan |
En rule (also known as [aka] ‘en dash’), minus |
– |
Insert > Symbol > More Symbols > Special Characters tab |
Alt+0150 * or Ctrl+- * or type two hyphens immediately after a word (no spaces) followed by the next word |
Slightly longer than a hyphen; use for spans of numerals or words, e.g. 100–150 m, north–south orientation |
Em rule (aka ‘em dash’) |
— |
Insert > Symbol > More Symbols > Special Characters tab |
Alt+0151 * or Ctrl+Alt+- *or type three hyphens immediately after a word (no spaces) followed by the next word |
Longer than an en dash; use instead of parentheses or commas for inserting extra information in a sentence; e.g. … The main vessels—the LMN and ABC—are considered… |
Non-breaking space |
° |
Insert > Symbol > More Symbols > Special Characters tab |
Ctrl+Shift+<spacebar> |
Can only be seen if show formatting is turned on; looks like a degree symbol, but does NOT print; forces a value and its unit of measure to stay together even when a line wrap might normally separate them. Always use between values and their units of measure; e.g. 50 km. |
Multiplication sign |
× |
Insert > Symbol > More Symbols > Symbols tab: 3rd bottom row of (normal text) list |
Alt+0215 * |
You can use a lower or upper case ‘x’, but ‘x’ is not a true multiplication sign. |
Division sign |
÷ |
Insert > Symbol > More Symbols > Symbols tab: bottom row of (normal text) list |
Alt+0247 * |
You can use a / to indicate division, but / can be used for other purposes, so use the division sign instead. |
Plus/minus sign |
± |
Insert > Symbol > More Symbols > Symbols tab: 9th row of (normal text) list |
Alt+0177 * |
You can use +/- instead, though it’s not as neat as ±. |
Superscript number |
m3 |
Home > Font > Superscript check box |
Ctrl+Shift+= |
Select the text to superscript, then apply the formatting. If you grab extra characters, either turn off the superscripting the same way, or press Ctrl+<spacebar> to return that text to its default. |
Subscript number |
CO2 |
Home > Font > Subscript check box |
Ctrl+= |
As for superscripting (above) |
Degree symbol |
° |
Insert > Symbol > More Symbols > Symbols tab: 9th row of (normal text) list (Word 2007 and 2010 at least) |
Alt+0176 * |
Be careful you don’t choose the symbol on the 10th row of the symbol list—the correct degree symbol is on the 9th row next to the ± sign. |
Greater than or equal to |
≥ |
(see instructions below this table) |
(see instructions below this table) |
Don’t use >=. |
Less than or equal to |
≤ |
(see instructions below this table) |
(see instructions below this table) |
Don’t use <=. |
Micron/mu |
µ |
Insert > Symbol > More Symbols > Symbols tab: 9th row of (normal text) list |
Alt+0181 * |
Don’t use ‘u’. |
For mathematical symbols such as ‘greater than or equal to’ (≥), there’s a setting you can turn on in Word that will convert characters such as >= to the correct symbol (i.e. ≥). It’s not turned on by default—you have to turn it on.
- Click the File tab (top left of the Word window).
- Click Options (near the bottom of the list on the left).
- Select Proofing on the left.
- Click the AutoCorrect Options button (top right).
- Select the Math AutoCorrect tab.
- Check the box to Use Math AutoCorrect rules outside of math regions. If you scroll down the list you can see what will be automatically converted—the ones for the ‘greater than or equal to’ example above are at the very end of the list.
- Click OK twice to exit Word Options.
(Note: These Word Options settings don’t carry across to Outlook or other Office programs, but you can turn this Math AutoCorrect setting on in Outlook the same way using Outlook’s Editor Options.)