Inserting a Special Character in a Google Doc or Slide

Default Method

When you want to insert a special character in a Google Doc or a Google Slide, here is a link to the help page with the quick steps to open the Special Character menu item to insert into your document.

"Substitutions" Method

If you are frequently typing words from another language, for example, and want a quick keystroke to insert a special character you can use the Substitutions setting in a Google Doc or Slide. Here is a Youtube video that explains how to use this method and where to find the setting in a Google Doc or Slide.

When you open the Substitutions settings you will see that Google has already listed quite a few common substitutions. Here are some examples of substitutions that I have created in the past:

I need a Spanish lowercase n with a tilde, like this ñ.
En dash (–) and the Em dash (—)

You will notice that the Replace column is two regular dashes for the En and three regular dashes for the Em

NOTE: When you enter a substitution setting for a Doc, it will also be available in Slides app automatically and vice-versa. This menu item is the same in both apps and read from the same pool of substitution settings.