How to type a decimal point

Continuing my occasional series of typographic typing tips (I like that alliteration). Usually we use the full stop as the decimal point in a number but strictly speaking the decimal point should be at middle height of the digits not at the base. You want **123·45** and not 123.45 What you need to type is called an interpunct or dot space. The way to do this on a Windows computer is a bit awkward. You need the keyboard shortcut Alt + 0183. In Microsoft Word, you can also go to Insert > Symbol > More Symbols and scroll down to find the interpunct symbol. To save time, On a Mac there is a system-wide key combination: shift+option+9 You can make things easier for yourself, and also make this work on a phone or tablet, by creating a text replacement snippet. I simply type "xdp" on any device and I get "·". (Word of warning. The interpunct is the correct puncuation in text. Excel however does not recognise it as a decimal point and if you use it in a number it will treat the characters as text.)