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# How to type a decimal point
- URL: https://www.plainfinance.net/how-to-type/
- Published: 2024-08-22T13:15:10.000Z
- Updated: 2025-06-26T15:29:16.000Z
- Author: Gary Bandy
- Tags: #Migrated-1749137416019, #sqs, #Import 2025-06-05 15:30

Continuing my occasional series of typographic typing tips (I like that alliteration). 

Usually we use the full stop as the decimal point in a number but strictly speaking the decimal point should be at middle height of the digits not at the base. You want **123·45** and not 123.45\. 

What you need to type is called an interpunct or a dot space. 

The way to do this on a Windows computer is a bit awkward. You need the keyboard shortcut Alt + 0183\. In Microsoft Word, you can also go to Insert > Symbol > More Symbols and scroll down to find the interpunct symbol. 

On a Mac it's easier because there is a system-wide key combination to type an interpunct: shift+option+9\. 

You can make things easier for yourself, and also make this work on a phone or tablet, by creating a text replacement snippet. I simply type "xdp" on any device and I get "·". 

#### PS.

A word of warning for Excel. Whilst the interpunct is the correct punctuation mark to use in text, Excel does not recognise it as a decimal point. If you use it in a number in an Excel spreadsheet the app will treat all the characters as text.