12 Symbols You Didn’t Know Had Names

Symbols have been integral to human communication for centuries, from hieroglyphics to emojis. Despite using many, like hearts or peace signs daily, we often overlook their names.

Grawlix

Grawlix or obscenicons, typographical symbols for curse words in comics, often contain punctuation like exclamation points, ampersands and percentage signs. Term coined by Mort Walker in 1964.

Dinkus

The dinkus, or dingbat/printer's ornament, is a decorative symbol used to break up blocks of text in written works, varying from simple shapes to complex designs.

Braces

Most people know parentheses and brackets but not braces, aka curly braces or squiggly brackets. They're used in maths, coding, and linguistics to group items or code.

Interrobang

The interrobang, a combo of question mark and exclamation point, was coined in 1962 to signify surprise and inquiry simultaneously. Find it in Arial, Calibri, and Verdana fonts.

Tittle

Ever noticed the dot above lowercase 'i' and 'j'? It's called a tittle, from Latin "titulus", meaning inscription/title. Initially, it helped differentiate similar letters in manuscripts.

Tilde

The tilde, a wavy line with roots in Latin, is used in Spanish & Portuguese for nasalization, and in math & computer science to represent negation or approximation.

Octothorpe

Did you know the hashtag is also called an octothorpe? First used in telephony to mark a number’s end, it became popular on social media to categorize posts. Its name originates from its eight points (octo) and the inventor's last name (Thorpe).

Chevrons and Guillemets

Chevrons and guillemets are symbols used in linguistics for quotations and in programming to enclose comments or code blocks. Chevrons are common in English, while guillemets are found in French, Italian, and Spanish.

Caret

The caret, an inverted V or wedge, is used in writing/editing to denote insertions, deletions or movements. In programming, it often indicates exponentiation or XOR operations. It's derived from Latin 'caret'- 'it lacks.'

Pilcrow

The symbol ¶, known as the pilcrow, first indicated new paragraphs in medieval texts. Now, it shows formatting in modern writing software.

Obelus

The obelus (÷), rooted in Greek "obelos" meaning "a spit", initially marked sections in ancient texts. Now, it's commonly used for division in mathematics.

Lozenge

The lozenge, resembling a diamond or rhombus, is used in heraldry, jewelry, mathematics, medicine, pharmacy. It can indicate medication dosage or symbolize the female gender.

More From Inspired by Insiders

Some decisions impact more than others, costing time, money and self-esteem. This article lists the 15 worst ones.15 Worst Decisions You’ll Ever Make in Your Life

12 Boomer Trends That Millennials Desperately Want to Go Extinct

Millennials eagerly await the extinction of some outdated Boomer trends, from fashion to career choices. 12 Boomer Trends That Millennials Desperately Want to Go Extinct

15 Things That May Be Hard to Do but Could Change Your Life Forever

Reflect on what you can do now for a better life, not missed chances. Embrace challenging actions that could transform you and achieve your goals. Here's 15 Things That May Be Hard to Do But Could Change Your Life Forever.

10 Celebrities Who Hate Donald Trump With a Passion

Donald Trump, 45th US President, has been a controversial figure, sparking divergence among showbiz personalities. Some celebrities openly expressed their antipathy towards him. 10 Celebrities Who Hate Donald Trump With a Passion

17 Things Millennials Are Killing Without Remorse

Millennials shake up conventions, changing relationship dynamics and business innovation. This article discusses things Millennials have removed without remorse 17 Things Millennials Are Killing Without Remorse.