Type the British Pound Symbol in Mac OS X
Nov 8, 2009 - 17 Comments
£ – Typing the symbol for the British Pound is done by hitting Option+3 in Mac OS X
This should come in handy the next time you’re in the UK with your Mac! Most Mac system fonts will have the ability to type the British Pound symbol but some of the fancier aftermarket fonts will not be able to render the £ pound symbol properly.
Unless you are using a British keyboard layout, in which case gives the pound sterling (£) symbol, and gives the # symbol. I’m not sure how many of the other suggested key strokes in this series for non-US-ASCII characters are valid on any other than US keyboard layouts. Apple has done a great job of internationalisation, but it means that keystroke combinations are not universal.
Aaaarghh – it was not obvious, but text enclosed here in angle brackets < > disappear. My previous comment should read
Unless you are using a British keyboard layout, in which case <SHIFT-3>gives the pound sterling (£) symbol, and <OPTION-3>gives the # symbol. I’m not sure how many of the other suggested key strokes in this series for non-US-ASCII characters are valid on any other than US keyboard layouts. Apple has done a great job of internationalisation, but it means that keystroke combinations are not universal.
Thanks…..I know this post was from a long time ago but it’s saved a lot of hassle for me so thank you very much. I reset my keyboard when I moved from UK to Aus. Still dealing in GBP sometimes I was frustrated not being able to use the £ sign….but look there it is thanks to you!!
)
P.S. By the way, instead of “option 3″ it is “alt 3″ on my iMac keyboard.
@Sam, the “option” and “alt” key on Macbook Pro’s and newer Mac keyboards (I have a 2 iMacs, Mac Pro, MacBook Pro, and MacBook for my small business) are on the same key in the U.S. It’s interesting that it differs for you.
I found that ‘Shift 3′ works for me. E.G. Hold the Shift key down and then at the same time press the number 3.
Yes – have to use HTML codes & l t ; for < and so on. Good to know.
superb i got it option +3 and u get it £, thank you….
On a German Layout you have to press Option+Shift+4 to get £.
Auf einem Deutschen-Layout musst du alt+Umschalt+4 drücken.
Vielen Dank. Habe lange danach gesucht.
Wow! Thanks for that. I’ve been looking for the £ symbol for ages on my MacBook with a Spanish keyboard and thanks to you I’ve found it. It’s just the same as the German layout. Woo hoo £££!
Neither option+3 nor shift+3 worked for me, that only gave me this:™ Thanks to Phileas´comment I figured out that I needed to press Option+shift+3 to get £.
Phileas you are awesome! I just got a Macbook Air 11″ with Western-Spanish Keyboard because with this keyboard I can type in so many languages without using any layout through software. One thing was pending though until you helped telling us how to get the pound sterling symbol. I did Option+Shift+4 and it worked just as in your German Keyboard. ¡GRACIAS! Regards from Chile.
I got my mac from Thailand and I live in the UK, there was a Thai and American language setting already on there but the when i set it to British and i did the option+3 i only get a # and i’ve tried all the stuff suggested above but still i can’t get a pound sign
Is there something i haven’t tried or do i have to switch between British and American to get the pound sign?
I press Option(Alt) + Shift + R on my Mac and I get ‘£’ sign. Voila!
Why on earth do you call it ‘option’ when on my keyboard it says ‘alt’ for the key that does that.
It is confusing and pointless.
like Oktawson I can’t get any of the suggestions here working for me! help!