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How To Quickly Create Slashed Zero In Word

I have heard from readers that they have a need for a slashed zero in certain documents. As a rule, they are used in academia or different technical publications to designate a zero instead of a capital O.

Should you find you have a need for this, there are a couple of ways to handle it.

Follow the steps below to learn how:

The first method is that you can search for and find a font that contains a slashed zero and if you find yourself using this character often, I would recommend this as the best long-term solution. However, should you only need to use the character sparingly, I would recommend the second option.

Follow the steps below to learn how:

  1. Place your cursor where you would like your slashed zero to appear.
  2. Press Ctrl+F9 to inserts field braces.
  3. Key in eq \o (0,/), which is saying combine a zero with a slash.
  4. Press Shift+F9. Word will collapse your field and your slashed zero will appear.

8 thoughts on “How To Quickly Create Slashed Zero In Word”

  1. Thanks,
    This is a lot quicker than the method I have been using previously.
    As an old and retired mathematician, I will certainly find a use for this technique.
    Gerry

  2. Charles D Hadden

    That was not even clear and no matter what I tried it did not work, possibly as I was using a 2007 version of Word. Why not just use the built-in ‘Character Map’ that Microsoft created? In Character Map, go to the trial list (first one), and it is row-8, column-11. By the way, having a dedicated list of the OLD ‘alt’ commands that have been around since Windows 3.0 (I believe) is far easier than this. ALT 0216 = Ø.

    1. Hi Charles,
      I am sorry hat you did not find my instructions to be clear. I have tried to make it as easy and clear as I can. I cannot be sure why it is not working for you, but it does indeed work for me in at least two versions of MS Word.

  3. My problem was step 3. “key in eq \o (0,/), which is saying combine a zero with a slash.”
    I tried all kinds of combinations of keys and could not find a working combination. I started looking on the web and found probably 20 versions of exactly what you posted and then found these two sites,
    https://www.cco.us/forum/threads/word-doc-how-to-type-a-zero-with-slash.1829/index.htm#:~:text=To%20do%20this%20use%20the%20Insert%2FText%2FQuick%20Parts%2FField%20menu,the%20cursor%20in%20the%20middle%20of%20the%20brackets.
    and
    http://wordfaqs.ssbarnhill.com/CombineCharacters.htm#Create

    I have easily followed many authors for over 30 years of working with both DOS and Windows. much less UNIX long before DOS, machine language, various Linux formats. I’m not trying to defame you are degrading you in any way, but simply say that MS has in place two long-standing methods and they are VERY easy to use and are standardized, over typing out some coded stuff that doesn’t follow normal protocols. The tools that M$ gives us are very easy and work not only in Word but any type of txt window. windows like this txt box I am typing in currently and your tool does not work here. also, I have been doing this for 30 years as I am a ham operator and my call sign is from region Ø. I use the special characters to such a great extent I have the ‘Character Map’ tool pinned to the Taskbar. It is a useful and easy-to-use tool and if you don’t really use them that much you are likely to forget complicated obscure coded routines also. By the way, I was finally able to accomplish it after reading the above-mentioned sites. and it looks just like you posted it! not a clue what I was missing so many times. I’ll stick to the normal M$ methods. The alt commands are great if you keep a printed out list of all of the possible combinations. That makes me very thankful to have the ‘Character Map’ available to me.

  4. Whatever works for you is fine with me. I am just glad that you finally got it to work and that you have another method to use. I even mentioned in my article that there was another way to do it – method one.

    All’s well that ends well! Take care.

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