The approximate symbol, sometimes referred to as the almost equal or approximately equal sign, is used in mathematics, science, finance, engineering, and statistics. In general, you can use the symbol in an equation to indicate that two values are roughly equal but not exactly so.
You might also think of the symbol as a substitute for a mathematical approximation. For example, 5.6 + 5.5 = 11.1; however, this is often rounded up to 11. You can insert the symbol in several ways into Microsoft Excel, including using keyboard shortcuts or copy-paste. There’s also an option involving AutoCorrect, where you type a string of characters that Excel converts automatically to the appropriate symbol.
What is the approximate symbol?
The approximate symbol is commonly written as A≈B (or just A≈B) to show that A and B are almost equal. The symbol itself is sometimes called “approximate,” “almost equal,” or “approximately equal.” It looks like a straight line connecting two other characters, which resembles a wavy dash, but there are several symbols that look similar.
Many people use the tilde (~) as a substitute, too, though ≈ is the symbol that is generally recognized in mathematical contexts for approximately equal.
How to insert the ≈ symbol in Excel
Inserting the symbol is a quick task with one exception: On most Windows systems, inserting the symbol is limited to using the Alt key on your numeric keypad. On Macs, there are additional options that work across the system.
Keyboard shortcut method (Windows)
Alt + 247
Hold down the Alt key, then press 2 followed by 4 followed by 7 on the numeric keypad located on the right side of your keyboard. The number must be entered sequentially, so pressing all the numbers simultaneously doesn’t work.
Another way to insert the symbol quickly and easily is by pressing Alt + 8776. This shortcut works system-wide, rather than being specific to a program such as Excel.
It is important to remember that the numeric keypad is required when using this shortcut. If your keyboard lacks a numeric keypad, try turning off NumLock and using the numbers above the letter keys.
Using the Option+X shortcut (Mac)
On a macOS device, hold down the Option key and tap X to insert the ≈ symbol directly. The symbol should appear wherever your cursor is currently positioned.
Command+Control+Spacebar opens up the Character Viewer on your Mac. From there, locate the “≈” character and click it to paste it directly into Excel. The Character Viewer is the best way to insert the symbol if you’re working within any other Office programs (such as PowerPoint or Word), or in addition to simply typing the symbol.
Insert the symbol through the Symbols dialog box
One of the quickest methods of inserting the symbol is to locate it via the Symbol dialog box. Begin by navigating to the Insert tab and clicking the Symbols option.
In the menu that appears, select the Symbol path to locate the symbol. Note that your choice of font plays a critical role in whether or not the symbol appears. Not every font has a complete set of symbols, so you may need to experiment until you find the right font.
For example, the Elephant font doesn’t include any fraction characters, but Verdana does. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, you can also change the font subset from All Symbols to something else. Once you’ve selected the correct font and found the symbol, click the Insert button at the bottom of the Symbol dialog box.
You can also manually enter the code into the box. Use the decimal code 8776 or the hex code 2248 instead.
Copy-paste as a no-setup method
If you have access to the symbol somewhere else (e.g., in another document or Web page), copy and paste the symbol directly into Excel’s cells. It’s the simplest method and requires no setup.
Configure AutoCorrect to replace a custom text string with ≈
You can take advantage of Excel’s AutoCorrect functionality to replace any string of characters with the symbol, although this functionality isn’t enabled by default. To configure Excel’s AutoCorrect function:
Start by opening the Symbol dialog box and copying the symbol (Ctrl+C) to the clipboard.
Return to your worksheet, and create an empty cell next to a formula or other data that will contain the ≈ symbol.
Type the string you want Excel to replace, such as “~” or “about equal”, and press Ctrl+C.
Select the Replace box beneath the Add rule field.
From the Replace text field, paste the string you want to replace with the symbol.
In the With text field, paste the ≈ symbol into the field.
Click Add, and then repeat these steps if you want to add multiple replacements.
When you close the dialog box, Excel will automatically replace the string with the ≈ symbol each time you type it.
Use Equation Editor when needed
Excel includes a built-in Equation Editor for those who need to create equations for reports and other documentation. In this case, you can choose to insert the symbol within an equation. However, the Equation Editor isn’t suited for simply inserting the symbol as a standalone cell character. Rather, it provides tailored environments where complex mathematical expressions can be created and formatted precisely.