Now you may say that the superscript O and the degree sign look the same, but in some fonts, they have a little underline.

The real degree sign, which looks right in all fonts, is Shift-Option-8. Second in Spanish is 2º, two degrees is 2°. There is a slight difference in this font between the two: °º (degree sign, masculine ordinal sign)

The Japanese Yen symbol looks like a letter Y with a line through it: Option+Y = ¥

When Americans say “the pound sign” we mean # – and the # symbol is on the upper row 3 key, so to make a British pound symbol: Option+3 = £

If you want to create the ¢ sign, where would you look for it? Well the other U.S. currency symbol is the dollar sign ($) which is on the upper row 4 key: Option+4 = ¢

How about the degree symbol (º)? Well, it looks like a small zero, right? So where else but on the upper row zero key: Option+0 = º

Many of us use an asterisk when making bullet points because we don’t know how to make a real bullet (•). The asterisk is on the uppercase 8 key, so just hold down the option key instead of the shift key and your bullets look better: Option+8 = •

Need an infinity symbol (∞)? Closest thing on the keyboard is the percent sign, on the upper row 5 key. So: Option+5 = ∞

How about the “circle R” trademark symbol? You guessed it: Option+R = ®

Into electronics? Specifying capacitor values? Don’t write mf when you really want µf: Option+M = µ

How about a slice of π (no, that’s not a lowercase n, it’s a pi symbol). Pi starts with P so: Option+P = π

Of course, ≤ and ≥ are where you’d expect, on the same keys as : Option+, = ≤ and Option+. = ≥

And you don’t need to make people guess if you mean division or a fraction by using the / symbol: Option+/ = ÷

What about a “not equals” sign? Do you even have to ask? (Wait for it, here it comes): Option+= = ≠

Not ALL symbols are mnemonic (for example, the © symbol is on Option+G – the only mnemonic I can think of for that one might offend the religious folks – *** **** the **AA).