The proportional to symbol (∝) is used in math, physics, and science notes to mean “changes with” or “is related to.”

For example, y ∝ x means when x increases, y increases too (in a consistent relationship).

People often confuse ∝ with ∞ (infinity) because they can look similar in some fonts. This guide shows the fastest ways to type ∝ on Windows, Mac, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs, Google Sheets, iPhone/Android, and Chromebook.

Table of Contents

1-Minute Answer (Fastest Methods)

Copy/paste (fastest): ∝

Windows (fast methods)

Character Map: search and copy ∝
Win + . (Windows symbol panel): you can check if it’s available (steps below)

Mac (fast method)

Character Viewer: Control + Command + Space, then search “proportional”

Microsoft Word (fast methods)

Insert → Symbol (find ∝)
Equation method: Insert → Equation, type \propto then press Space

Excel / PowerPoint (fast method)

Insert → Symbol (brief steps below)

Google Docs

Insert → Special characters, search “proportional”

iPhone / Android

Most reliable: copy/paste ∝ (you can also set a text replacement)

Chromebook

Most reliable: copy/paste ∝

Quick Reference (Proportional to symbol vs Common Look-Alikes)

Symbol	Name	Meaning (simple)	Best way to type (Windows/Mac)	Notes (Word/Docs)
∝	Proportional to	“changes with / related to”	Windows: Character Map • Mac: Character Viewer	Word: \propto in Equation works great
∞	Infinity	“goes on forever”	Windows: Character Map • Mac: Character Viewer	Often confused with ∝ in some fonts
~	Tilde / approximately	“about / approximately”	Keyboard (varies by layout) or copy/paste	Not the same as ∝ (it means “about”)

Step-by-step: How to type Proportional To Symbol on every device/app

A) Windows

Method 1: Copy/paste (fastest)

Copy this: ∝
Paste where you need it:
- Ctrl + V (most apps)

Method 2: Check the Windows symbol panel (Win + .)

This panel changes depending on your Windows version and what you’re typing into, so don’t rely on it 100%.

Click where you want the symbol (Word, Google Docs, a text box, etc.)
Press Win + . (or Win + ; on some keyboards)
Look for a Symbols section (not just emojis)
If you see ∝, click it to insert

If you can’t find it there, use Character Map (next method).

Method 3: Character Map (reliable)

Press Start and search: Character Map
Open Character Map
In the font list, pick a common font like Segoe UI Symbol (or keep the default)
Find ∝ (you can scroll, or use “Advanced view” if available)
Click ∝ → click Select → click Copy
Paste it into your document with Ctrl + V

Troubleshooting (Windows): “Alt codes not working”

Alt-code style shortcuts can be confusing because:

Many require a numeric keypad (not the top number row).
Num Lock must be on (for keypad typing).
Some laptops don’t have a true numpad, so Alt codes may fail.

If you tried an Alt code and nothing happened:

Turn on Num Lock
Use the numeric keypad (not the number keys above letters)
Try Character Map instead (it always works)

B) Mac

Character Viewer (best method on Mac)

Click where you want the symbol
Press Control + Command + Space
In the search box, type:
- proportional
- proportional to
- or paste ∝
Double-click ∝ to insert it

Tip: If you use it often, add it to Favorites (you can pin commonly used symbols in Character Viewer).

C) Microsoft Word

Method 1: Insert → Symbol (easy)

In Word, click where you want ∝
Go to Insert
Click Symbol → More Symbols
Look for ∝ in the list (try common symbol fonts like Segoe UI Symbol)
Select ∝ → Insert → Close

Helpful search tip: In the Symbol window, the character code for ∝ is often shown as 221D (Unicode hex). If Word lets you type a character code, enter 221D to jump to it.

Method 2: Equation method (\propto) — best for students

This is the cleanest method for math notes.

Go to Insert → Equation
Click into the equation box
Type: \propto
Press Space
Word converts it into ∝

Optional: AutoCorrect shortcut (type a word → Word replaces it with ∝)

If you type ∝ often, set your own shortcut.

Go to File → Options
Choose Proofing
Click AutoCorrect Options…
In “Replace,” type something like: propto
In “With,” paste: ∝
Click Add → OK

Now typing propto then a space can insert ∝ automatically.

D) Excel

Insert → Symbol

Click the cell where you want ∝ (or click into the formula bar for text)
Go to Insert → Symbol
Find ∝ and insert it

Copy/paste (great for labels and notes)

Copy: ∝
Paste into a cell (especially useful for headings, notes, or chart labels)

Important note: Excel formulas don’t use ∝. It’s mainly for display, not calculation.

E) PowerPoint

Insert → Symbol (brief)

Click inside a text box
Go to Insert → Symbol
Select ∝ → Insert

Copy/paste also works fine in PowerPoint text boxes.

F) Google Docs + Google Sheets

Google Docs: Insert → Special characters

In Docs, click where you want the symbol
Go to Insert → Special characters
Search: proportional
Click ∝ to insert

Google Sheets

Sheets doesn’t have the same symbol tool as Docs, so the easiest method is:

Copy/paste ∝ into a cell (for headers, notes, labels)

G) iPhone + Android

Most reliable method: copy/paste

Copy this: ∝
Tap and hold where you want it
Tap Paste

Optional tip: create a text replacement

If you type it often, set a shortcut like propto → ∝ in your keyboard settings (text replacement).

H) Chromebook (short)

Best method: copy/paste

Copy: ∝
Paste with Ctrl + V (or long-press → Paste on mobile-style Chromebooks)

Meaning + Simple Examples (Beginner-friendly)

∝ means “changes with” or “is related to.”
It does not mean “equals.” It means the two things move together in a consistent way.

Simple examples

y ∝ x
As x increases, y increases (they rise together).
y ∝ 1/x (inverse proportion)
As x increases, y decreases (one goes up, the other goes down).

Real-world example

Cost ∝ quantity
If you buy more items, the total cost usually goes up.

Common Confusion (Read this if the symbol looks “wrong”)

∝ vs ∞ (infinity)

∝ = proportional to (relationship)
∞ = infinity (endless)

They can look similar in some fonts, especially when small.

∝ vs ~ (tilde / approximately)

∝ means “related to / changes with”
~ usually means “about / approximately” (or “similar to” in some contexts)

∝ vs α (alpha)

In some fonts, ∝ can be mistaken for α at a quick glance.
If you’re unsure, copy the symbol from this page and paste it into your document to be safe.

Troubleshooting

“I can’t find ∝ in the Symbol menu”

Try these searches/paths:

Mac Character Viewer: search proportional
Google Docs Special characters: search proportional
Windows Character Map: look under symbol-friendly fonts like Segoe UI Symbol

“It shows as a box (□) or a weird blank symbol”

That usually means your font doesn’t support the symbol.
Fix:

Select the symbol
Change the font to something common like Segoe UI Symbol, Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman
If needed, copy/paste it again after changing the font

“Alt code not working”

Common causes:

You’re not using a numeric keypad
Num Lock is off
Your laptop doesn’t support numpad-style Alt codes

Fix: use Character Map (Windows) or Insert → Symbol (Word/Office).

FAQ (People Also Ask)

What is the ∝ symbol called?

It’s called the proportional to symbol (or proportionality sign).

What does ∝ mean?

It means “is proportional to” — in plain English: “changes with” or “is related to.”

How do I type ∝ on Windows?

The most reliable method is Character Map (copy ∝, then paste).

How do I type ∝ on Mac?

Use Character Viewer: Control + Command + Space, then search proportional.

How do I insert ∝ in Word?

Best options:

Insert → Symbol
Insert → Equation → type \propto → press Space

Is ∝ the same as infinity?

No.

∝ means proportional to
∞ means infinity

Quick Recap

Fastest: copy/paste ∝
Windows: Character Map
Mac: Character Viewer
Word (best): Equation → \propto → Space
Docs: Insert → Special characters → search proportional