Keyboard symbols with pictures name the marks on a computer keyboard beyond the letters and digits, from the at sign and the hash to the ampersand and the tilde. Each symbol has a spoken name, so a help desk can describe a key without pointing at it. The ampersand stands for the word and.
Keyboard symbols at a glance
- A keyboard symbol is any printed mark that is not a letter or a digit.
- Common symbols are the at sign, the hash, the ampersand and the asterisk.
- Many symbols have two names, so hash is also called the pound sign.
- A few symbols look alike but differ, such as the hyphen and the underscore.
- The commonest error is confusing the word symbol with its homophone cymbal.
What are keyboard symbols?
Keyboard symbols are the printed marks on a keyboard other than the letters and digits, and each one carries a fixed name. The at sign and the hash sit above the number row, the ampersand and the asterisk share the number keys, and the brackets and braces sit near the right-hand side. The plain word appears in keyboard in a sentence.
| Symbol | Name | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| @ | at sign | email addresses and handles |
| # | hash or pound sign | tags and numbers |
| $ | dollar sign | money amounts |
| % | percent sign | rates and percentages |
| ^ | caret | exponents and cursor marks |
| & | ampersand | the word and |
| * | asterisk | footnotes and wildcards |
| ( | left parenthesis | opening a side note |
| ) | right parenthesis | closing a side note |
| – | hyphen | joining compound words |
| _ | underscore | spaces in file names |
| + | plus sign | addition |
| = | equals sign | equations |
| / | forward slash | web addresses and fractions |
| \ | backslash | file paths in Windows |
| | | vertical bar or pipe | separating data |
| ~ | tilde | approximate values |
| ` | grave accent or backtick | code and commands |
| [ | left bracket | grouping in code |
| ] | right bracket | grouping in code |
| { | left brace | grouping in code |
| } | right brace | grouping in code |
| : | colon | introducing a list |
| ; | semicolon | joining two clauses |
| " | quotation mark | quoting words |
| < | less-than sign | comparisons in math |
| > | greater-than sign | comparisons in math |
One honest limit belongs here: a few symbols carry more than one accepted name, so the hash is also the pound sign and the number sign, and the backtick is also the grave accent. The same mark may also be called the pipe or the vertical bar. A help desk and a programmer may use different words for one key, and both are correct.
How do you name keyboard symbols in a sentence?
Symbol names are countable nouns, and they usually follow a verb of typing, pressing or calling. A compact keyboard layout appears in qwerty keyboard in a sentence.
| Pattern | Example | What it signals |
|---|---|---|
| type + a + symbol | Type an at sign before the name. | an instruction |
| press + the + symbol + key | Press the hash key to continue. | a step |
| the + symbol + stands for + word | The ampersand stands for and. | a meaning |
| call + it + the + symbol | Call it the underscore, not the dash. | a correction |
| use + a + symbol + to + verb | Use a backslash to separate folders. | a purpose |
Keyboard symbols with pictures: examples across contexts
The symbol names move from a classroom to a help desk, and each setting uses a different word. A wider word for the same idea appears in symbol in a sentence.
| Context | Example sentence | Why this works |
|---|---|---|
| Classroom | Name each keyboard symbol on the chart. | a matching task |
| Type an at sign before the address. | a clear instruction | |
| Programming | A backslash separates the folders. | a technical detail |
| Social media | Add a hash before the topic word. | a tagging habit |
| Maths | Use a caret for the exponent. | a notation rule |
| Writing | Join the two words with a hyphen. | a punctuation rule |
| Help desk | Press the tilde key, top left. | a spoken direction |
| File names | Use an underscore instead of a space. | a naming rule |
| Set design | The cymbal and the symbol sound alike. | an everyday mix-up |
| Conversation | Is that a forward slash or a backslash? | an everyday question |
Which keyboard symbol name should you use?
Match the name to the mark, because a hyphen and an underscore sit on the same key on many keyboards but are not the same character.
| Situation | Pick | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Joining two words | hyphen | Join the two words with a hyphen. |
| Naming a file | underscore | Use an underscore instead of a space. |
| Names in an email | at sign | Type an at sign before the address. |
| A topic tag | hash | Add a hash before the topic word. |
| A folder path | backslash | A backslash separates the folders. |
The name should match the exact mark, because two symbols can share one key and still differ. A hyphen joins words, while an underscore links words in a file name; a forward slash suits web addresses, while a backslash suits Windows file paths. Naming the exact symbol, rather than saying the little mark, tells a reader which character to type.
Word forms and grammar of keyboard symbol names
The names of the symbols change shape in a few set ways, and one pair of homophones catches most learners.
| Form | Part of speech | Example |
|---|---|---|
| symbol | noun | A symbol stands for something. |
| symbols | plural noun | These symbols sit above the digits. |
| symbolic | adjective | A symbolic mark carries meaning. |
| symbolise | verb (British) | A hash can symbolise a tag. |
| symbolize | verb (American) | A hash can symbolize a tag. |
| cymbal | noun (a musical disc) | The drummer struck a cymbal. |
| backtick | noun | A backtick opens code in some styles. |
Common mistakes with keyboard symbols
Mistake 1: swapping symbol and cymbal. Incorrect: Press the cymbal key. Correct: Press the symbol key. Rule: a symbol is a printed mark, while a cymbal is a metal disc a drummer strikes.
Mistake 2: calling an underscore a dash. Incorrect: Use a dash between the words. Correct: Use an underscore between the words. Rule: an underscore sits on the bottom line, while a dash sits in the middle.
Mistake 3: a faulty spelling of asterisk. Incorrect: Add an asterix. Correct: Add an asterisk. Rule: the word ends in -isk, so asterix is a misspelling.
Mistake 4: mixing the two slashes. Incorrect: Use a forward slash to separate Windows folders. Correct: Use a backslash to separate Windows folders. Rule: a backslash leans left and suits file paths, while a forward slash suits addresses.
Mistake 5: a plural after the article a. Incorrect: type a hashes. Correct: type a hash. Rule: a comes before a singular countable noun.
Practice using keyboard symbol names
- Fill in the blank: An email address uses an ___ sign before the name.
- Choose the better word: A file name often uses an (underscore / asterisk) instead of a space.
- Correct the error: Add an asterix to mark the footnote.
- Build a sentence: use “the + symbol + stands for + word” with ampersand.
- Spot the register: which suits a help desk, (a) Hit the squiggly thing, or (b) Press the tilde key, top left?
- Fill in the blank: A ___ separates folders in a Windows file path.
Answers
- at, because an email address uses an at sign before the name.
- underscore, because a file name joins words with an underscore.
- Add an asterisk to mark the footnote; the word ends in -isk.
- The ampersand stands for the word and.
- (b), because a help desk names the exact key and its position.
- backslash, because a backslash separates folders in Windows.
The bottom line
Keyboard symbols with pictures turn a row of small marks into a set of exact names, from the at sign and the hash to the ampersand and the tilde. Use the precise name when you ask someone to type a character, and keep the homophone pair apart: a symbol is a printed mark, while a cymbal is a drum. The mix-up between the two appears in cymbal vs symbol.
Frequently asked questions about keyboard symbols
What are the common keyboard symbols?
Common keyboard symbols include the at sign, the hash or pound sign, the dollar sign, the percent sign, the caret, the ampersand, the asterisk, the parentheses, the hyphen, the underscore, the plus sign, the equals sign, the slashes, the brackets, the braces, the colon, the semicolon and the quotation mark.
What is the difference between a hyphen and an underscore?
A hyphen is a short line in the middle of the text height, and it joins the parts of a compound word. An underscore is a line at the bottom of the text height, and it links words in file names and web addresses, where a space is not allowed.
What is the at sign and what is it used for?
The at sign, written as @, is the symbol used in email addresses to separate the user name from the domain. It also marks user handles on social media and appears in some programming languages, so a reader meets it in several everyday settings.
What is the difference between a forward slash and a backslash?
A forward slash leans to the right and appears in web addresses and fractions. A backslash leans to the left and separates folders in Windows file paths. The two look like mirror images, so a writer should name the exact one they mean.
