Unicode characters in iPad OS interferes with text formatting, keyboard shortcuts

When typing unicode symbols (e.g, up/down arrows ↑/↓, mathematical symbols like ∴, ∵) with a bluetooth keyboard and mouse on my iPad (9th gen, iOS 17,3 - latest version), it interferes with the text formatting; bullet points appear unusually large, text font looks different, access to keyboard shortcuts like cmd+/- to increase/decrease text size...

For clarification, I have the aforementioned symbols bound to a text replacement shortcut using the settings app. Issue exists only for certain unicode symbols. Shortcuts that use only text don't cause any issue

Bit annoying as it ruins the formatting for the rest of the page. I also find myself having to take my hands off the keyboard to use the mouse instead to change to a different font/heading size