Frequently Asked Questions
Symbols
What is the name of the # symbol? |
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It has several names, some confusing. The most common is probably 'hash'.
In the US it is sometimes called the 'pound sign' and used as a symbol for pounds
weight, but this confuses the British, for whom a pound sign is £. In music,
of course, it is a 'sharp'. The picturesque name 'octothorpe' has also been
introduced: it is said to have been invented by an employee of Bell Laboratories
in the 1960s, in honour of the American athlete Jim Thorpe. In the large form
in which it appears on modern telephones it is sometimes called 'square'.
Other questions in this section:Is there a name for the dot above the i?
Does the '¢' in the US cent sign stand for 'cent'?
What are the correct terms for the forward and backslash as used in computing languages, Web addresses etc.?
What is the name for the # symbol?
What is the origin of the '@' sign?
What is the origin of the dollar sign ($)?
What is the origin of the pound sign (£)?
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