The Continental 7

[AndiFlatland]

For most of my life, I've adopted the continental style of writing the number 7, with a short horizontal bar across the vertical stroke. This has become quite prevalent in many British people's writing in recent years, and it is ubiquitous in mainland Europe and beyond. So why is it that I cannot find an option to have my 7s printed in this format on Microsoft Word? Does anybody have any idea if such a font is available anywhere on the internet? Ideally, I'd like also to be able to do the same thing with my capital Zs, which is also a continental style that I use, but which is less common in the UK. (ZZZZZ...)

[Zacs-Master]

The cross is to avoid confusion with the continental style of writing 1 which has an exaggerated serif on the top. Absolutely no reason to do it when typing.

[TheWinner]

Go into word and bring up a new document. Type a number 7 (in any font, say Times New Roman).
Highlight the number 7 using your cursor.
Click on the font dialogue box (control+d), look for EFFECTS, and click on the box next to STRIKETHROUGH, then OK.

[heathfield]

What version of Word are you using, Winner?

[AndiFlatland]

What, you mean like this: 7 ??

But although I've followed your instructions and it's showing on the MSW screen, it won't copy to here, or to my e-mail like that. Same with the Z.

Good idea, but I can't see how to actually use it!

[TheWinner]

heathfield, word 2007

AndiFlatland, you asked for the option to do this in word, and it does work in word. However, I don't know why you can't copy it to other places. If I find out a way to do it, I will come back to you and let you know.

[AndiFlatland]

OK, many thanks, TheWinner.

When I posted my question, I didn't see it as necessary to explain that I often use the extensive box of symbols when I'm composing e-mails, writing reviews or making notes for my draft folders, to lift things like accented letters, fractions, or any other non-standard letter forms that aren't available on an ordinary keyboard. It had occurred to me more recently to see if there was a barred 7 in that box, as it seemed reasonable that with it being a widely used form, it should be there - but it wasn't.
That is virtually all I ever use MSW for.

[TheWinner]

AndiFlatland, meanwhile, why not look online for a free download of a font that gives you these options. I found this by googling.

http://www.fontriver.com/font/arabella/

someone else asked a similar question and this is the reply they were given.

This is the link, and below is the answer.
http://www.typophile.com/node/77539

Here are a few typefaces featuring 7 with cross-bar:

Arabella
Arkona
Bison
Brahms-Gotisch
Candida
Chronika
Constantia
Diplomat
Federzug-Antiqua
Forte
Fox
Fraktur-Kursiv
Gotenburg
Hermann-Gotisch
Hobby
Intarsia
Journal-Antiqua
Junior
Lo-Schrift
Prägefest
Reporter
Rheingold
Salto
Schlanke
Signal
Skizze
Splendor
Tannenberg
Trump-Deutsch
Wieynk-Fraktur

It may be of some help to you.

[AndiFlatland]

OK, many thanks, TheWinner I'll explore those at my leisure.

Somehow, I suspected I may not have been the first with that line of enquiry.