Use the command-line language with JAWS
Updated 15 Sep 2025
When you answer questions, you can use keyboard shortcuts to cut, copy, and paste. You also can use the command-line language to enter special characters and symbols.
Standard keyboard shortcuts
| To do this... | Enter this shortcut... |
|---|---|
| To copy text | Select text and type Ctrl-c |
| To cut text | Select text and type Ctrl-x |
| To paste text | Place cursor and type Ctrl-v |
| To undo | Type Ctrl-z |
| To redo | Type Ctrl-y |
Basic math operators
| To type this operator... | Enter this... |
|---|---|
| Plus | + |
| Minus | - |
| Multiplication dot | * |
| Multiplication dot | ☆ |
| Times (x) | × |
| Division (÷) | ÷ |
| Less than (<) | < |
| Less than or equal to (≤) | < = |
| Greater than (>) | > |
| Greater than or equal to (≥) | > = |
| Equal to (=) | = |
Not equal to ( ) |
<> |
Math symbols and expressions
| To type this expression or symbol... | Enter this... |
|---|---|
| Fraction | numerator-part / denominator-part |
| Mixed number | whole-number-part <space> numerator-part / denominator-part |
| Superscript | ^ |
| Subscript | _ |
| Absolute value | |number| |
| Square root | SQRT(number) |
| Nth root of X | RTX(root degree,number) |
| Vertical bar (pipe) | | |
| Empty set | ∅ |
| Union | ∪ |
| Intersection | ∩ |
| Belongs to (element of) | ∈ |
| Does not belong to (not element of) | ∉ |
| Subset of | ⊂ |
| Not a subset of | ¬subset; |
| Proper subset of | &propsubset; |
| Not a proper subset of | ¬propsubset; |
| Ordered pair | (a,b) |
| Angle | ∠ |
| Partial derivative | &partiald; |
| Logical and | ∧ |
| Logical or | ∨ |
| Logical not | &lognot; |
| Tilde | ˜ |
| Infinity | &inf; |
| i (imaginary unit) | i |
| e (euler's constant) | E |
| Pi | π |
| Gradient | &grad; |
| Integral | &integral; |
| Uppercase sigma/summation | ∑ |
Greek letters
| To type this letter... | Enter this... |
|---|---|
| lowercase alpha | α |
| lowercase beta | β |
| lowercase gamma | γ |
| uppercase delta | &cdelta; |
| lowercase theta | θ |
| lowercase lambda | λ |
| lowercase mu | μ |
| lowercase pi | π |
| lowercase rho | ρ |
| lowercase sigma | σ |
| uppercase sigma/summation | ∑ |
| lowercase tau | τ |
| lowercase phi | ϕ |
| uppercase phi (phi alt) | φ |
| lowercase chi | χ |
| lowercase psi | ψ |
| lowercase omega | ω |