Common Symbols and Different Forms of Print

Let me show you the names for some of the common symbols that you will see in writing. They also show you how to describe types of printing, symbols from other languages.

Common symbols 

& amp; amp; ampersand. This symbol is read as 'and'
© copyright symbol
• bullet point
✓ UK tick , US check
@ This symbol is read as 'at' and is used in email addresses.
" This symbol is read as 'ditto' and is used in a list to avoid writing a word if the same word is written immediately above it.
* asterisk
™ trademark symbol
® registered trademark
✗ cross
 
Accents 

é e acute
è e grave
ô o circumflex
ä a umlaut
ñ n tilde
ç c cedilla

Different forms of print

underlined text
italic text
UPPER CASE
lower case
bold text
highlighted text

Mathematical symbols

1 + 2 = 3

1 plus 2 = 3 or 1 and 2 is 3

3 − 1 = 2

3 minus 1 = 2 or 3 take away 1 is 2 or 1 from 3 = 2

2 × 3 = 6

2 multiplied by 3 = 6 or 2 times 3 = 6 or two threes are six

6 ÷ 2 = 3

6 divided by 2 = 3 or 2 into 6 is 3

2 + 2 = 4

2 + 2 equal(s) 4 or 2 + 2 make(s) 4

x ≠ 2

x is not equal to 2 or x does not equal 2

x ≈ 2

x is approximately equal to 2

x > 2

x is greater than 2

x ≥ 2

x is greater than or equal to 2

x < 2

x is less than 2

x ≤ 2

x is less than or equal to 2

22 = 4

2 squared is 4

√4 = 2

the (square) root of 4 is 2

23 = 8

2 cubed is 8

3√8 = 2

the cube root of 8 is 2

24 = 16

2 to the power of 4 is 16

± 4

plus or minus 4

¼ - a quarter or one quarter

½ - a half or one half

¾ - three quarters

5 ¾ - five and three quarters

0.1 - nought point one (UK), zero point one (US)

3.15 - three point one five

25% - 25 per cent

90° - 90 degrees