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UK keyboards have a pound (sterling) and dollar symbol, do American keyboards have the same?

Question #24656. Asked by Bennett.

l3i7l
Answer has 2 votes
l3i7l
23 year member
266 replies

Answer has 2 votes.
We, all too often, arrogant Americans have little use for foreign symbols, so they are not on the keyboard. However, they can be created by using the Windows hidden character set. To make a 'pound sterling' symbol, the Num Lock must be on, then you hold down the ALT key as you type in zero (0), one (1), six (6), three (3) on the numeric keyboard. When you release the ALT key the symbol should appear. Here goes my try:__ %A3 __
Some things do not always work as they should in here, because of the programing used. The symbol did work in the answer box as I typed this, but I do not know if that will appear correctly after I submit the answer.
Other hidden characters can usually be found by looking in various Windows books, under 'Characters and Fonts'.

Nov 28 2002, 7:46 PM
Gnomon
Answer has 3 votes
Currently Best Answer
Gnomon
23 year member
1331 replies

Answer has 3 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
The keyboard I am typing on has a pound currency sign over the 3, a dollar sign on the 4 and a euro sign beside the 4.

This issue is made more complicated by the fact that many Americans call the sign consisting of two horizontal lines and two vertical lines the pound sign!

Nov 29 2002, 7:38 AM
RickF
Answer has 2 votes
RickF
21 year member
227 replies

Answer has 2 votes.
Do they? All the Americans I know call it the 'hash-mark(-sign)' and mostly use it as an abbreviation for 'number'.

Nov 29 2002, 10:44 AM
McG
Answer has 2 votes
McG

Answer has 2 votes.
The 'hash-mark' is an octothorp, which is what I have always called it. I've never heard people use the term 'hash-mark.' When it appears on a telephone keypad, it is called the pound sign. People who don't know what to call it, call it 'the little tic-tac-toe thingy.'
As far back as I can remember, we have used it as an abbreviation for the word 'number.'

Dec 01 2002, 11:42 PM
Brainy Blonde
Answer has 2 votes
Brainy Blonde

Answer has 2 votes.
You're right McGruff, it was the phone company that changed the name of it. The
first time I heard them call it that I had to get an operator on the phone to
find out what on earth a pound sign was. After she told me, I said when I went
to school it was called a number sign. When did it change? She had no answer for
me of course. Mind you I was talking to the phone company after all!! LOL!!!
Gotta go, Alias is on!!!

Dec 02 2002, 12:02 AM
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