Sometimes I need a character in my Google Sheets text as part of a formula I am writing. =CHAR() is a powerful formula to allow you to combine characters.
Using Char in Google Sheets
The CHAR() function might seem a bit mysterious, but it’s actually quite fun. It lets you insert special characters into your sheet by using their corresponding numerical code. Think of it like a secret code for symbols!
Hard Carriage Return
=CHAR(13)
Wondering how to add a hard carriage return to a formula in Google Sheets? CHAR(13) gives you that hard carriage return! It’s like hitting “Enter” to move to the beginning of the next line.
When giving personalized feedback you might concatenate values in the spreadsheet such as
=”A15″&”, your overall score is “&B15&”.”&CHAR(13)&”I recommend that you “&C15
If column A is name, B is score, and C is a note then this formula would look like
Alice, your overall score is 20.
I recommend that you study harder.
Notice the “I recommend” starts on a new line thanks to CHAR(13)
Line Break
=CHAR(10)
Similar to CHAR(13), CHAR(10) will give you a line break. However it will be considered part of the same paragraph. This allows you to force where you want the text to word wrap.
Multiplication Symbol
=CHAR(215)
Trying to create a multiplication table in Google Sheets? You may want to add the multiplication x. Use CHAR(215) when you concatenate values.
=C32&” “&CHAR(215)&” “&D32
Horizontal tab
=CHAR(9)
I needed to use multiple CHAR(9) to indent my text in the cell.
=CHAR(9)&CHAR(9)&CHAR(9)&CHAR(9)&“Alice”
Additional Characters To Use in Google Sheets
- CHAR(8226) (Bullet Point): Great for creating lists within a cell or for simple checklists.
- CHAR(8594) (Right Arrow): Use this to visually indicate a progression or next step in a process. “Step 1 → Step 2 → Step 3”
- CHAR(9679) (Filled Circle): This can be used as a visual marker for tasks, like a simple “to-do” list in your lesson plan.
- CHAR(176) (Degree symbol): Essential for displaying temperatures or angles.
- CHAR(8722) (Minus Sign): Sometimes useful for distinguishing a negative number from a dash.
