Copy the Average Symbol
The Ø symbol (or the small variant ø) is primarily used in technical drawings to indicate the diameter of round objects, such as holes, tubes, or axes. It's therefore not a mathematical average of numbers, but a geometric diameter of a circle.
When we talk about the mathematical average of numbers (including grade average), there is no single symbol for it. In mathematics, x with a bar above it (x̅) is often used, which indicates the arithmetic mean.
There are two variants of this symbol:
- Large Ø - used in official technical drawings and documentation
- Small ø - more common in informal communication and texts
Depending on your operating system, you can use one of the following methods:
- Windows: Press Alt + 0216 (Ø) or Alt + 0248 (ø) on the numeric keypad
- macOS: Press Option + Shift + O for Ø
- macOS: Press Option + O for ø
On mobile devices, typing Ø is easier:
- iOS (iPhone/iPad): Hold the O key and select Ø or ø from the menu
- Android: Hold the O key and select Ø or ø from the menu
In office applications, you can use these methods:
- Microsoft Word: Insert → Symbol → Ø or use the shortcut as on Windows
- Google Docs: Insert → Special characters → search for 'O with stroke'
- Excel: Same as in Word, or use the function =CHAR(216) for Ø or =CHAR(248) for ø
For web developers and authors of technical documentation:
You can insert the Ø character directly in HTML code:
<span>Gemiddelde: Ø</span>Use the HTML entity:
<span>Gemiddelde: Ø</span>Displays as: Gemiddelde: Ø
Or use the numeric code:
<span>Gemiddelde: Ø</span>Displays as: Gemiddelde: Ø
Besides Ø, other symbols are also used for average:
- x̄ (x with bar) - statistical mean of a sample
- μ (Greek letter mu) - mean of a population
- avg. or mean - written abbreviations
The Ø symbol is primarily a technical symbol for indicating the diameter of objects, but is often (incorrectly) also used for mathematical average. Either way, now you know how to type this symbol on any device or in any program.