Word symbols and their meanings

Some of the most common symbols are the:

• Heart symbol
• Dove symbol
• Raven symbol
• Tree symbol
• Owl symbol
• And more.

In this list, you’ll find some of the most prominent symbols as well as learn about what each of them means.

You can check out our visual summary below or skip ahead to read a detailed description of each symbol and its origins.

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Why Are Symbols Important in Graphic Design?

Symbolism, or semiotics as it’s known in technical circles, plays such a large part in human communication because people are constantly looking for deeper meaning. Whether it’s in the stars, drawn on a cave wall or in the newest visual content, we add such meaning to our communication through the use and interpretation of signs.

Because we look for meaning in everything around us, anything can become a symbol as long as people interpret it to mean something other than its literal definition. Some symbols, however, have become so ingrained within our cultural sphere that they carry an almost universal meaning. After all, who doesn’t immediately associate an owl with wisdom, a dove with peace or a red rose with romance?

Whether you’re a designer, a filmmaker or a writer, all communicators must resort to symbolism to communicate a message. To help you create meaningful content that triggers the right associations in your audience, here are 40 symbols all storytellers should be familiar with.

20 Common Symbols and Meanings

1 Raven

The narrative poem “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe is one of the most notorious examples of the use of this mysterious and macabre bird, which is often associated with its cousin, the crow.

As an animal that feeds on dead bodies, the raven has cemented itself as a sign of death and doom in the human psyche. The symbolism of ravens is so common that modern audiences identify it with a bad omen.

Visual communicators of all types can use the symbol to foreshadow death and disaster or create an atmosphere of doom and gloom.

2 Dove

The dove is often associated with peace, tranquility and grace. Its meaning has become so universal that major world religions such as Christianity and Judaism have used the symbol as the truest representation of peace, grace and divinity.

In modern times, it has also become synonymous with pacifism and the end of a conflict. Its progression from a religious to a political symbol is evidenced in its adoption as the symbol of anti-violence campaigns and the Olympic games, which has become a means to promote international cooperation and peace.

Communicators of all types can use the symbol to communicate serenity, harmony, unity and the absence of violence.

3 Butterfly

All over the world, in both myth and art, the butterfly is seen as a symbol of transformation and change, thanks to its metamorphosis from a wormy caterpillar to a stunning insect with vividly colored wings.

In certain cultures, this conspicuous insect is a representation of the soul and is used in tales and myths to signal a visit from someone who passed away or signal the possibility of life after death. For example, in the movie “Titanic,” the decorative butterflies on Rose’s hair comb were used to represent her freedom from the “cocoon” of her engagement to a man she did not love.

Communicators of all types can use this symbol to visually represent any type of change or transformation, both internal and external.

4 Cross

Across the globe, the cross is associated with Christianity, spirituality, forgiveness, resurrection and healing. More specifically, it represents the story of Jesus’ including his death on the cross.

A red cross is commonly used as a symbol for medical and humanitarian relief workers in war zones and at the sites of natural disasters. It is also widely used to designate first aid and medical supplies, apart from its use by the International Red Cross, the American Red Cross and other organizations.

5 Water

Water historically represents life to a community since it’s a requirement for human survival. Thus, symbols for water were especially common throughout time, representing birth, fertility, and refreshment. In fact, water is often viewed as the source of life itself, as we see evidence in countless creation myths in which life emerges from primordial waters.

Just as we use water to wash away dirt, sweat and soil, water cleanses a canvas. But  it also becomes a symbol of obstacles, such as a river or ocean to cross. Either way, water can be a symbol of power in visual stories, with the ability to claim audiences and characters, as well as free them.

6 Owl

The use of the owl as a symbol is as popular today as it ever was: You see them everywhere, from accessories and clothing to interior design and home décor. But the symbol’s popularity is nothing new.

Its historical popularity as a symbol is also due to the fact that an owl always accompanied Athena, the Greek goddess of learning. In Native American cultures, the owl is seen as a creature of the night, and so is associated with the supernatural and even death.

Because they are usually nocturnal, owls have often been seen as mysterious and even magical creatures that dwell in and emerge from the darkness. Europeans in the Medieval Ages even believed the creatures might be sorcerers in disguise. Likewise, West African and Aboriginal Australian cultures viewed the owl as a messenger of secrets and a companion of sorcerers.

In a visual message such as a logo or design, an owl can be used to represent wisdom, intelligence or a lesson that needs to be learned.

7 Rose

Who doesn’t associate a red rose with love and romance? After all, it is widely used in film, art and literature as representations of these concepts. And nothing says, “I love you,” like a gift of a single red rose. The connection is nothing new, either. Romans venerated the flower as the symbol of their love goddess, Venus, and Greeks associated the symbol with the goddess of love, Aphrodite.

Roses can also signify other things, depending on the context. To Catholics, the rose represents the Virgin Mary and the rosary. In the War of the Roses, a series of battles between two families aspiring to the throne, the symbol represents the nation of England.

8 Fire

As a crucial element in the development of civilization in the history of mankind, fire is widely seen as a symbol with multiple meanings: a flame can signify wisdom and knowledge, while a raging fire is often used to symbolize fear, pain, anger, punishment, destruction and even death. Such associations likely hearken back to earliest days of mankind.

After all,  before humans found ways to properly harness this element, fire was a force that quickly could demolish early settlements. Therefore, fire commanded fear. Still today, drought-ridden regions are consumed by fires that can’t be adequately controlled. Even now, we witness the struggle in the western United States.

On the other hand, fire can also represent rebirth and renewal, as in the example of the phoenix, a mythical bird that ignites itself and emerges from its own ashes. It can also symbolize passion combusting from within.

A caveat to those who are thinking of using the symbol in any type of content: Keep in mind the context when crafting your visual message. For example, while a candle flame may be seen as representative of knowledge, a raging fire may be interpreted as destruction, judgment and danger. Poking smoldering coals to reignite a flame, on the other hand, more accurately describes an igniting passion or lust from within the soul.

9 Arrows

This symbol may bring to mind bows and arrows, like the kind used by Robin Hood and his merry men, but they are also ubiquitous in the modern world: Think of the cursor on your screen or the arrows you see on websites to draw attention to certain elements on the screen. You also see them on highways, where they serve to direct your gaze and steer you in the right direction.

In logos, arrows often signify movement, progress, ambition and direction. Arrows can even be used as a symbol that only our subconscious minds immediately recognize. Examine the famous FedEx logo, for example. Hidden in the white space between the E and the X is an arrow pointing to the right. Since we read from left to right, pointing right signifies moving forward, and the arrow is speed.

RELATED: The Meaning of Shapes and How to Use Them Creatively in Your Designs

10 Flags

Flags can carry a variety of meanings, depending on the context, symbols and colors used. For example, the rainbow flag is commonly associated with the LGBT movement. Meanwhile, national flags are commonly used to evoke a sense of pride and patriotism in citizens.

The colors used in a banner can symbolize all sorts of concepts, which is why most countries have designed their own flag with the meanings of colors in mind. For example, red can represent blood loss, valor and revolution, while white usually stands for nonviolence and harmony. Blue, on the other hand, symbolizes freedom, yellow stands for wealth and green commonly represents agriculture and fertility. It’s no coincidence then that the most common color combinations on country flags are blue, red and white; and yellow, red and green.

Based on an audience’s country of origin, it will interpret the colors of its national flag as a symbol of patriotism. In the United States, for example,  the colors red, white and blue are a symbol of national pride. An Italian audience, however, would react similarly to red, green and white.

11 Rain/Storms

Rain is usually associated with sadness and depression. It’s easy to understand why: Gloomy weather often produces feelings of dreariness, loneliness and pessimism. Consider rain’s role in Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities.” Anytime an eventful scene occurs, it just happens to be storming. The rain tells the reader that trouble is approaching.

And although it most commonly denotes sadness and melancholy, the potential of rain’s symbolism is far from limited. In movies, rain has been used to create a sense of fearful apprehension and even represent a person crying.

Rain can also symbolize purification as it washes away dirt and destruction. It can even symbolize the cleansing of the human soul. Just imagine a character walking through a rainstorm as he or she undergoes a mental transformation.

12 Peace sign

While a variety of peace symbols, such as the dove and the olive branch, have been used in an assortment of ways across cultures and contexts, the «peace sign», we know today was designed in the 1950s as the logo for the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

A combination of the semaphore signals for the letters «N» and «D», standing for «nuclear disarmament,” the peace symbol was later adopted by a variety of anti-war movements.

Although the symbol instantly brings to mind the hippie movement of the 1960s, it returned to its roots in the 1980s with its adoption as the symbol of the anti-nuclear movement.

13 Occult symbols

Meaning “unknown” or “hidden,” the occult refers to supernatural phenomena and the paranormal; in essence, all that transcends the limits of human reason. Religions such as Wiccanism and NeoPaganism consider occultism as fundamental to a spiritual experience.

Occult symbols can range from those used in witchcraft, satanism, Kabbalah or other mystical ideologies.

Common symbols such as an inverted pentagram, ankh and the all-seeing eye play an important role in ceremonies and ritual.

14 Hearts

One of the most widely recognized symbols is the heart. While it still means “love,” it can carry much more subtle meanings, and it has many variants that have evolved through time. For example, some of the early versions of the symbols were more realistic and rounded, while newer representations are simplified renditions in the form of pictograms.

The first known use of the heart symbol is found in a 13th-century miniature representing a suitor offering his heart to the woman he is courting. The heart symbol also has been a common feature on coats of arms. In such uses, the symbol can stand for many of the ideas we associate with hearts today, including love, valor, loyalty and kindness. Hearts can also carry a religious connotation, such as when they’re depicted surrounded by flames or thorns.

15 Colors

Just like symbols, colors have also been assigned meanings, depending on the context.

Blue, for example, may symbolize disparate ideas, such as calmness and melancholy, at the same time. Another example is the color red. While it is often used to signify danger, it is also frequently associated with romance and love.

Color symbolism can vary greatly because meanings are assigned to different symbols and colors at an individual, cultural and international level.

Marketers can gain a better understanding of how to correctly leverage color symbolism by understanding their context-specific meanings.

16 Skulls

Whenever we see the skull and bones symbol, a few things come to mind: warning labels on poisonous substances, pirate ships, Halloween, death and mortality.

In fact, skulls are the most identifiable bone in the human body, but almost always foster feelings of dread and dismay. After all, any time we see a skull, it means its owner has died.

Graphics featuring a pair of bones crossing below human skull have symbolized death since the Middle Ages. The symbol was engraved on the head of the earliest tombstones in Boston and the rest of New England, and skulls are also the primary symbol of Mexico’s annual Day of the Dead.

As with other symbols, context is key. The popularity of the symbol in modern culture has some fearing that children enthralled by piratery imagery might be attracted instead of repelled by warning labels incorporating the symbol.

17 Crescent

Just as the cross is associated with Christianity and the star of David is a universal symbol of Judaism, a crescent symbolizes another major world religion. But the use of the crescent moon as a symbol predates Islam by several thousand years. In fact, the symbol was in use by ancient cultures in Central Asia and Siberia in their worship of the sun, moon and sky gods.

Because it’s literally a drawing of the second lunar phase, the crescent, also referred to as the sickle, is the astrological sign representing the moon. Since the crescent moon literally means to grow and increase, the shape often symbolizes new beginnings and the making of dreams into reality. It can even be connected to rebirth and immortality.

18 Stars

An ancient symbol with many uses, the star can take on different meaning based on both its context and its number of points. Because they are some of the most distant bodies we can see with the naked eye, stars can symbolize physical distance, such as a journey, or emotional distance, such as a misunderstanding.

Before advancements in science were made that allowed humans to understand the nature of our galaxy and its celestial bodies, stars were seen as a symbol of the struggle between light and darkness, between the spiritual and material worlds.

Stars are also commonly associated with magic. Thus, wizards and magicians are often seen with stars on their clothes, and the act of magic can be visually depicted with stars and starbursts. A shooting star is associated with wishes, hope and dreams.

19 Light

Light is used by many cultures to symbolize illumination in the metaphoric state. It can symbolize purity, goodness, clarity, insight and knowledge.

Light is the symbol of joy and of life-giving power, as darkness is of death and destruction. Therefore, in religion, light is often associated with immortality and a higher power. For example, in the Jewish Holy of Holies,  a cloud of light symbolized of the presence of Yahweh.

In our physical world we see things through the medium of light. In the symbolic world, we see not with light but with wisdom. Therefore, light is often associated with enlightenment.

20 Darkness

The foil of the goodness and knowledge associated with light, darkness epitomizes evil, the unknown and negativity. Just as yin is to yang, darkness and light represent two opposing forces of nature, whether good and evil, knowledge and ignorance, love and hate or happiness and despair.

Therefore, visual storytellers can use this symbol to represent any of the following: death or the transition to the afterlife; the lack of a clear vision; the evils and mysteries of the night; the darkness of the human soul.

Bonus Visual Symbols and Meanings

21 Lion

Known as the «king of the jungle,» the lion is a symbol of strength, royalty and authority. In religion, it is used to represent Christ as king.

22 Swan

A representation of grace, balance and beauty in ancient Greece, the swan is also associated with love, poetry and music.

23 Spider

A symbol of mystery and growth, spiders can also represent the power to construct reality through our decisions.

24 Wolf

The wolf is often used as a representation of loyalty, guardianship, strength, independence and freedom.

25 Viking

Although the Old Norse word means «pirate» or «raider,» it can also be associated with concepts such as power, magic and strength.

26 Phoenix

A mythological bird, the phoenix is known to emerge from its own ashes. Thus, it signifies rebirth, renewal and immortality.

27 Triangle

The triangle is associated with concepts such as power, stability, the Holy Trinity and, in ancient times, female reproduction.

28 Rainbow

Often seen after a rain, the rainbow signifies new beginnings, hope, the fulfillment of a dream and the promise of prosperity. It’s also associated with diversity and the LGBTQ+ community.

29 Circles

Circles represent wholeness and a natural sense of completion. They can signify eternity and constant movement.

30 Dragon

One of the most revered symbols in Asian culture, the dragon represents strength, power, wisdom, luck and magic.

31 Angels

Recognized in religion as messengers from God, angels represent guardianship, divinity, protection and goodness.

32 Demons

Symbolic of our internal struggles, demons represent base desires, addictions, or weaknesses or defects you try to hide from others.

33 Peacock

A beautiful and ostentatious bird, the peacock is often associated with grace, awakening, royalty, self-expression and confidence.

34 Eggs

A universal symbol, the egg is associated with new life, birth, fertility, resurrection and the potential for growth.

35 Witches

A well-known symbol, witches represent magic, spells, witchcraft and the supernatural world. For some, it can represent a way of life or fond fictional characters such as Harry Potter or Gandalf.

36 Rabbits

A gentle and cuddly animal, the rabbit is often associated with concepts such as warmth, comfort, vulnerability and fertility.

37 Trees and forests

While a tree may symbolize fertility and life, a forest is a symbol of entering the mysteries of the unconscious and the unknown.

38 Planets

In astrology, each planet represents something. For example, Venus symbolizes love, beauty and art, and Mercury represents intellect and reason.

39 Sun

The star around which the Earth and other planets orbit, the sun represents the self, life, power, glory, foresight and vision.

40 Moon

A body that orbits the Earth, the moon represents femininity, the rhythm of time, eternity and the dark side of nature.

Your Turn

Were any of the above symbolic meanings a surprise? Which symbol have you most often used in your visual designs?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Typographical symbols and punctuation marks are marks and symbols used in typography with a variety of purposes such as to help with legibility and accessibility, or to identify special cases. This list gives those most commonly encountered with Latin script. For a far more comprehensive list of symbols and signs, see List of Unicode characters. For other languages and symbol sets (especially accents), see below

In this table,

• The first cell in each row gives a symbol;
• The second, a link to the article that details it, using its Unicode standard name or common alias (holding the mouse pointer on the hyperlink will pop up a summary of the symbol’s function);
• The third, symbols listed elsewhere in the table that is similar to it in meaning or appearance or that may be confused with it;
• The fourth (if present) links to related article(s) or adds a clarification note.

Typographical symbols and punctuation marks

Symbol	Name of the symbol[a]	Similar glyphs or concepts	See also
◌́	Acute (accent)	Apostrophe, Grave, Circumflex
❦ ❧	Aldus leaf	Dingbat, Dinkus, Hedera, Index	Fleuron
≈	Almost equal to	Tilde, Double hyphen	Approximation, Glossary of mathematical symbols, Double tilde
&	Ampersand	plus sign	Ligature (writing)
⟨ ⟩	Angle brackets	Bracket, Parenthesis, Greater-than sign, Less-than sign, Guillemet	Bracket
‘ ’	Apostrophe	Quotation mark, Guillemet, Prime, Grave
*	Asterisk	Asterism, Dagger	Footnote
⁂	Asterism	Dinkus, Therefore sign
@	At sign
	Backslash	Slash, Solidus (/)
`	Backtick (non-Unicode name)		(‘Backtick’ is an alias for the grave accent symbol)
‱	Basis point (per ten thousand)	Per cent, per mille (per 1,000)
∵	Because sign	Therefore sign
[ ] { }	Brackets	Angle bracket, Parenthesis
•	Bullet	Interpunct
‸ ⁁ ⎀	Caret (proofreading)		Caret (computing) (^)
⟨ ⟩	Chevron (non-Unicode name)		(‘Chevron’ is an alias for Angle bracket)
^	Circumflex (symbol)	Caret (The freestanding circumflex symbol is known as a caret in computing and mathematics)	Circumflex (diacritic), Caret (computing), Hat operator
◌̂	Circumflex (diacritic)	Grave, Tilde	Combining Diacritical Marks, Diacritic
:	Colon	Semicolon
,	Comma		Cedilla, Decimal separator
⁒	Commercial minus sign	Minus sign, Division sign, Per cent, Obelus
🄯, (ɔ)	Copyleft sign	Copyright sign
©	Copyright sign	Sound recording copyright	Circled latin capital letter C
¤	Currency sign	Square lozenge («Pillow»)	various Currency symbols
† ‡	Dagger	Obelus	Footnotes, Latin cross,
–  — (and more)	Dash	Hyphen, Hyphen-minus, minus sign	Em dash, En dash
°	Degree sign	Masculine ordinal indicator
* * *	Dinkus	Asterism, Fleuron, Dingbat
(many)	Dingbat	Dinkus, Fleuron
⌀	Diameter		Ø (Scandinavian orthography), Slashed zero; empty set
«	Ditto mark	Quotation mark
÷	Division sign	Slash (Solidus) (/), Obelus
◌	Dotted circle (Used as a generic placeholder when describing diacritics)		Combining Diacritical Marks
⹀ ⸗	Double hyphen	Almost equal to
…	Ellipsis
=	Equals sign
℮	Estimated sign
!	Exclamation mark	Inverted exclamation mark, Interrobang
ª	Feminine ordinal indicator	Masculine ordinal indicator, Degree sign
(many)	Fleuron	Dinkus, Dingbat
❦ ❧	Floral heart	Dingbat, Dinkus, Hedera, Index	Fleuron
.	Full stop	Interpunct, Period	Decimal separator
♀ ♂ ⚥	Gender symbol		LGBT symbols
`	Grave (symbol)		Quotation mark#Typewriters and early computers
◌̀	Grave (diacrictic)	Acute, Circumflex, Tilde	Combining Diacritical Marks, Diacritic
>	Greater-than sign	Angle bracket
« »	Guillemet	Angle brackets, quotation marks	Much greater than
❦ ❧	Hedera	Dingbat, Dinkus, Index, Pilcrow	Fleuron
‐	Hyphen	Dash, Hyphen-minus
—	Hyphen-minus	Dash, Hyphen, Minus sign
☞	Index	Manicule, Obelus (medieval usage)
·	Interpunct	Full-stop, Period,	Decimal separator
‽	Interrobang (combined ‘Question mark’ and ‘Exclamation mark’)	Inverted question and exclamation marks
¡	Inverted exclamation mark	Exclamation mark, Interrobang
¿	Inverted question mark	Question mark, Interrobang
<	Less-than sign	Angle bracket, Chevron, Guillemet
◊	Lozenge	Square lozenge («Pillow»)
☞	Manicule	Index, Obelus
º	Masculine ordinal indicator	Feminine ordinal indicator, Degree sign
−	Minus sign	Hyphen-minus, Commercial minus
×	Multiplication sign		X mark
#	Number sign	Numero sign. Also known as «octothorpe» and «hash»	Pound sign
№	Numero sign	Number sign
	Obelus	Division sign, Dagger, Commercial minus, Index
( )	Parenthesis	Bracket, Angle bracket
%	Percent sign	Per mille (per 1,000), Basis point (per 10,000)
‰	Per mille	Percent, Basis point
.	Period
¶	Pilcrow	Paragraph mark, paragraph sign, paraph, alinea, or blind P	Section sign (‘Silcrow’)
⌑	Pillow (non-Unicode name)		‘Pillow’ is an informal nick-name for the ‘Square lozenge’ in the travel industry. The generic Currency sign is superficially similar
|	Pipe (non-Unicode name)		(formally, «vertical bar»)
+	Plus sign	minus sign, ampersand
±	Plus–minus sign (‘plus or minus’)	Approximately equal to
′ ″ ‴	Prime (symbol)	Apostrophe, quotation marks	foot (unit), Inch, Minute, Second
?	Question mark	Inverted question mark, Interrobang
“ ”   » » ‘ ’   ‘ ‘	Quotation marks	Apostrophe, Ditto, Guillemets, Prime	Inch, Second
®	Registered trademark symbol	Trademark symbol
¤	Scarab (non-Unicode name)	(‘Scarab’ is an informal name for the generic Currency sign)
§	Section sign	section symbol, section mark, double-s, ‘silcrow’	Pilcrow
;	Semicolon	Colon
℠	Service mark symbol	Trademark symbol
/ (and more)	Slash (non-Unicode name)	Division sign, Backslash	also known as «stroke»
/	Solidus (the most common of the slash symbols)	Division sign	Called «slant» in ASCII
℗	Sound recording copyright symbol	Copyright sign
⌑	Square lozenge	Currency sign
∴	Therefore sign	Asterism, Because
⁀	Tie
~	Tilde (symbol)		Tilde (diacritic) Wave dash Double tilde
◌̃	Tilde (diacritic)	Circumflex, Grave	Combining Diacritical Marks, Diacritic
™	Trademark symbol	Registered trade mark
_	Underscore
|	Vertical bar	also known as a ‘pipe’
/	Virgule	Slash	Virgule (disambiguation)

See also[edit]

• Astronomical symbols – Symbols in astronomy
• Chemical symbol – Abbreviations used in chemistry
• Chinese punctuation – Punctuation conventions used in Chinese languages
• Currency symbol – Symbol used to represent a monetary currency’s name
• Diacritic – Modifier mark added to a letter
• Hebrew punctuation – Punctuation conventions of the Hebrew language over time
• Glossary of mathematical symbols – Meanings of symbols used in mathematics
• Japanese punctuation
• Korean punctuation – Non-alphanumeric marks used in writing
• Ordinal indicator – Character(s) following an ordinal number (used of the style 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or as superscript, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th).

Lists of other typographic entities[edit]

• List of currency symbols currently in use
• List of logic symbols
• List of Japanese typographic symbols
• List of mathematical symbols by subject
• List of common physics notations
• List of typographic features

Notes[edit]

External links[edit]

• The Comprehensive LaTeX Symbol List

Set is a collection of different elements. It could be numbers, alphabets, etc. Various symbols are used to denote them (like ℝ denote set of Real Numbers) and their relationship and operation (subset, union, etc).

These set symbols helps to represent mathematical ideas in a concise way and saves space and time. In this blog we have listed all the commonly used Set symbols together and how to get them in Ms Word along with their keyboard shortcuts

List of set symbols along with their meaning and how to get them in Ms Word

Three methods to get symbols in Ms Word

Insert Symbol Method: Go to Insert > Symbols and select More Symbols. In the symbol window, click the desired symbol and hit insert. Following table gives the subset dropdown option of each symbol that can help you find a symbol.

Math AutoCorrect: This is the smartest way to get any symbol in Ms Word. Simply type the Math AutoCorrect text and hit space to get symbol. It works inside Equation editor. However, you can make it work outside equation editor, with following one time setting.

• Go to File > Options to open Word Options
• In Proofing and select AutoCorrect Options
• In Math Autocorrect tab, check box against “Use Math AutoCorrect rules outside of math regions”

Alt X Method: Type the Alt X code of symbol and press Alt + X immediately after it to get symbol.

Let’s say, P = {1, 2, 3, 4} and Q = {1, 3, 5}

Symbol	Name & Meaning	Example	Subset of Symbol	Math Autocorrect Shortcut (press space after shortcut to get symbol)	Alt X Code (type this code and press Alt+X)
ℕ	Natural number: All positive integers from 1 till infinity	ℕ = {1, 2, 3, …}	letterlike symbols	doubleN	2115
ℤ	Integers: A whole number (not fractional ) that are +ve, -ve or 0	ℤ = {…, -2, -1,0 ,1 ,2 ,…}	letterlike symbols	doubleZ	2124
ℚ	Rational Numbers: a number that is of the form p/q where p and q are integers and q is not equal to 0	5, 10.45, 3/7	letterlike symbols	doubleQ	211A
𝔸	Algebraic numbers: Number that is the solution to a polynomial with rational coefficients	1, 3/7, √2	Extended characters – Plane 1	doubleA	1D538
ℝ	Real numbers: A number that includes rational and irrational numbers	2, π, 2/7	letterlike symbols	doubleR	211D
𝕀	Imaginary numbers: a real number multiplied by an imaginary unit which is defined by its property i2 = −1	5i, πi	Extended characters – Plane 1	doubleI	1D540
ℂ	Complex number: a number of the form a + bi, where a and b are real numbers	2+3i, 1.5-1i	letterlike symbols	doubleC	2102
{ }	Set: collection of elements	Q = {1, 3, 5}	–	–	–
A ∪ B	Union: in A or B (or both)	P ∪ Q = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}	Mathematical operators	bigcup	222A
A ∩ B	Intersection: in both A	P ∩ Q = {1, 3}	Mathematical operators	bigcap	2229
A ⊆ B	Subset: every element of A is in B	{1, 3, 5} ⊆ Q or {2, 4} ⊆ P	Mathematical operators	subseteq	2286
A ⊂ B	Proper Subset: every element of A is in B, but B has more elements.	Correct: {1, 3} ⊂ Q Incorrect: {1, 3, 5} ⊂ Q	Mathematical operators	subset	2282
A ⊄ B	Not a Subset: A is not a subset of B	{5, 6} ⊄ Q	Mathematical Operators		2284
A ⊇ B	Superset: A has same elements as B, or more	{1, 3, 5, 7} ⊇ {1, 3, 7} or {1, 3, 5, 7} ⊇ {1, 3, 5, 7}	Mathematical operators	superseteq	2287
A ⊃ B	Proper Superset: A has B’s elements and more	Correct: {1, 3, 5, 7} ⊃ {3, 5, 7} Incorrect: {1, 3, 5, 7} ⊃ {1, 3, 5, 7}	Mathematical operators	superset	2283
A ⊅ B	Not a Superset: A is not a superset of B	{1, 3, 5, 7} ⊅ {1, 9}			2285
Ac	Complement: Elements not in A	Qc = {1, 2, 6, 7}	–	–	–
A − B	Difference: In A but not in B	Let X = {1, 2, 3, 4} and Y = {2, 4}, then X – Y = {1, 3}	–	–	–
a ∈ A	Element: a is an element of A	3 ∈ {1, 2, 3, 4}	Mathematical operator	in	2208
b ∉ C	Not an element: b is not an element of C	2 ∉ {1, 3, 5}	Mathematical operator	notelement	2209
Ø	Empty set: { }	{1, 3} ∩ {2, 4} = Ø	Mathematical operator	emptyset	2205
𝕌	Universal set: the set of all elements or members of all related sets		Extended Characters – Plane 1	doubleU	1D54C
P(A)	Power set: all subset of A	P({a, b}) = { {}, {a}, {b}, {a, b} }	–	–	–
A = B	Equality: both sets have the same members	{2, 5, 8} = {8, 2, 5}	–	–	–
A×B	Cartesian Product: (set of ordered pairs from A and B)	{1, 2} × {a, b} = {(1, a), (1, b), (2, a), (2, b)}	Latin-1 Supplement	times	00D7
|A|	Cardinality: number of elements of set A	|{5, 6}| = 2	–		–
|	Such that	{ n | n > 0 } = {1, 2, 3,…}	–	–	–
:	Such that	{ n : n > 0 } = {1, 2, 3,…}	–	–	–
∀	For all	∀ x >1, x2 > x (for all x greater than 1, x square is greater than x)	Mathematical operators	forall	2200
∃	There exists	∃ x | x2 < x (there exists x such that x squared is less than x)	Mathematical operators	exists	2203
∄	There does not exist	∄ x | x +1 < x	Mathematical operator		2204
∴	Therefore	a=b ∴ b=a	Mathematical operators	therefore	2234

What is the origin of various symbols used in English, and when is the use of each appropriate? Here’s a guide to twelve common signs, including how they developed and in which contexts they are used or avoided.

1. & (Ampersand)

The ampersand was, at least until well into the nineteenth century, treated as the twenty-seventh letter of the alphabet, but its star has fallen, so that now it is used only informally except in registered names of businesses (“Ay, Bee & See Inc.”), which should be written as rendered; a comma preceding it is extraneous.

The symbol comes from the cursive formation of the Latin word et (“and”), and the name is a slurring contraction of “and per se and,” which used to terminate schoolroom recitals of the alphabet: The phrase means “and by itself and”; instead of reciting, “. . . W, X, Y, Z, and,” children said, “. . . W, X, Y, Z, and per se and” to clarify that “and” referred to a list item rather than serving as a conjunction for an item that was left unuttered. The symbol is also seen in &c. (“et cetera”), an alternate form of etc.

American Psychological Association (APA) style allows the ampersand to link author names in an in-text citation (“Laurel & Hardy, 1921”), but other style guides call for using the word and.

2. * (Asterisk)

The asterisk is used to call out a footnote or to refer to an annotation of special terms or conditions, to substitute for letters in profanity (“Oh, s***!”) or a name rendered anonymous (“the subject, M***”), to serve as a low-tech alternative to a typographical bullet, or provide emphasis in place of boldface (“Do *not* go there — the food is awful.”). It also has many specialized technical usages. Its name is derived from the Greek term asteriskos, meaning “little star,” and it was originally applied to distinguish date of birth from other references to years.

3. @ (At Sign)

Until the age of e-mail, the at sign was restricted mostly to commercial use, in purchase orders and the like, to mean “at the rate of” (“Order 1K widgets @ $2.50 per.”). It’s also used in displays of schedules for competitive sports to identify the event venue. Now it’s ubiquitous in email addresses and in social-networking usage, as well as computer protocols, but outside of those contexts, it is considered inappropriate for all but the most informal writing.

4. ¢ (Cent)

This symbol for cent (from the Latin word centum, meaning “hundred”), unlike its cousin the dollar sign — it’s also used in many monetary systems other than that of US currency — is rare except in informal usage or for price tags. When it does appear, unlike the dollar sign, it follows rather than precedes the numeral, though as in the case of the dollar sign, no space intervenes. The equivalent usage in a context where dollar signs are employed is to treat the amount as a decimal portion of a dollar (“$0.99”); for clarity, a zero should always be inserted between the dollar sign and the decimal point.

The sign probably originated to distinguish an ordinary c from one denoting a monetary amount.

5. ° (Degree Sign)

The sign for degrees of arc or degrees of temperature, which started out as a superscripted zero, was chosen for consistency with use of the minute (′) and second marks (″) employed in geometry and geography; those symbols originally stood for the Latin numerals I and II. The degree sign appears in technical contexts, but in general-interest publications, the word degree is generally used.

In references to temperature, the symbol (and the designation of the temperature scale) immediately follows the associated numerical figure (“45°C”). This style is true of many publishing companies, though the US Government and the International Bureau of Weights and Measures prescribe a space between the number and the symbol (“45 °C”), while other publications omit the first letter space but insert another between the symbol and the abbreviation (“45° C”).

6. ” (Ditto Sign)

The ditto sign, first attested three thousand years ago, signals that text shown above is to be repeated, as in a list in which the same quantity of various materials is intended to be expressed:

apples 24
bananas ”
oranges ”

The word ditto, meaning “said,” derives from the Tuscan language, the immediate ancestor of Italian, but was borrowed into English hundreds of years ago. The word, its abbreviation (do.), and the symbol are considered inappropriate for most writing, though the term has often been used in informal spoken and written language to mean “(the same as) what he/she said.” Although the symbol has a distinct character code for online writing, straight or curly close quotation marks are usually employed to produce it.

7. $ (Dollar Sign)

This symbol for the American dollar and many other currencies was first used to refer to the peso, which inspired the American currency system. Various origin stories for the symbol come in and out of fashion, but it’s most likely that it developed from an abbreviation of pesos in which the initial p preceded a superscript s; the tail of the initial was often superimposed on the s. A dollar sign with two vertical lines is a less common variant.

Most books and other formal publications tend to spell out dollars in association with a (spelled-out or numerical) figure, but periodicals usually use the symbol, as do specialized books about finance or business or others with frequent references to money. In international publications, when the symbol is used, for clarity, it is combined with the abbreviation US (“US$1.5 million” or “US $1.5 million”).

The dollar sign is also used as an abbreviated reference to various functions in computer programming and similar contexts.

8. # (Number or Pound Sign, or Hash)

This symbol evolved from the abbreviation for pound, lb. (a literal abbreviation for the Roman word libra, meaning “balance”), in which horizontal lines were superimposed on the vertical lines of the letters, producing something like the tic-tac-toe pattern used today. One of many other names for the sign, octotherp (also spelled octothorp or otherwise), was a jocular coinage by telecommunications engineers in the mid-twentieth century. The symbol is seldom used outside informal or highly technical or otherwise specialized contexts.

9. % (Percent)

The sign for indicating percentage developed in the Middle Ages over the course of hundreds of years, beginning as an abbreviation of percent (from the Latin phrase per centum, meaning “out of a hundred”). Its use is recommended only in technical contexts or in tabular material, where space it at a premium. (Some standards authorities call for a space between a number and this symbol, but most publications and publishers omit the space.)

10. ~ (Tilde)

The tilde is used as a diacritical mark over various letters to indicate a variety of sounds in different languages, but it also appears midline, like a dash (and is sometimes called a swung dash), to denote “approximately (“Last night’s attendance: ~100”). It has technical connotations as well and is even used as a notation for recording sequences of action in juggling. The name, borrowed into English through Portuguese and Spanish from Latin, means “title.”

11. / (Slash, Solidus, Stroke, or Virgule)

During the Middle Ages, this sign of many names, including those listed above, served as a comma; a pair denoted a dash. The double slash was eventually tipped horizontally to become an equal sign and later a dash or hyphen. (The equal sign is still used as a proofreader’s mark to indicate insertion of a hyphen.) The slash — also called the forward slash to distinguish it from the backslash, which is used only in technical contexts — is an informal substitute for or.

12. _ (Underscore or Understrike)

This artifact from the era of the typewriter was used on such devices to underline words to indicate emphasis in lieu of italics. As a survival of that function, words are sometimes bracketed by a pair of single underscores in email and other computer contexts to mark a word for emphasis (“That band totally _rocked_ the place.”). Indeed, as I typed this post in Microsoft Word, the program automatically converted rocked to italics. The symbol also appears frequently in email and website addresses and other technical contexts.

A Symbol is a mark, sign or word that indicates, signifies or understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by creating linkages between otherwise very different concepts and experiences. In this page we talk about Symbols | Common Symbols and their Meanings.

A Symbol is a visual image or sign representing an idea, deeper indicator of universal truth. Symbol is a mark sign or word that indicates, signifies or is understood as representing an idea, object or relationship. All communication and data processing achieved through use of symbols. Symbols take form of words, sounds, gestures, ideas or visual images. They used to convey other ideas and beliefs.

For example, red octagon is a common symbol for “STOP” on maps, blue lines often represent rivers; and red rose often symbolizes love and compassion. Numerals are symbols for numbers; letters of an alphabet may be symbol for certain phonemes and personal names. They are symbol representing individuals. The variable ‘x’ in a mathematical equation may symbolize position of particle in space.

Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by creating linkages between otherwise very different concepts and experiences. The academic study of symbols is semiotics. In cartography, an organized collection of symbols forms a legend for a map.

Symbols are a means of complex communication that often can have multiple levels of meaning. The Symbol are basis of all human understanding and serve as vehicles of conception for all human knowledge. Symbols facilitate understanding of world in which we live, thus serving as grounds upon which we make judgments. In this way, people use symbol not only to make sense of the world around them. But also to identify and cooperate in society through constitutive rhetoric.

Symbol’s Concepts:

Concepts and words are symbols, just as visions, rituals and images. They are manners and customs of daily life. Through all of these transcendent reality mirrored. There are so many metaphors reflecting and implying something which, though thus variously expressed.

It is ineffable, though thus rendered multiform, remains inscrutable. Symbols hold mind to truth but are not themselves truth, hence it is delusory to borrow them. Each civilization, every age, must bring forth its own.

Human cultures use symbols to express specific ideologies and social structures. It represent aspects of their specific culture. Thus, symbols carry meanings that depend upon one’s cultural background. In other words, meaning of a symbol is not inherent in symbol itself but culturally learned.

Semiotics Symbols:

Semiotics is the study of signs, symbols and signification as communicative behavior. Semiotics studies focus on relationship of signifier and signified. It also taking into account interpretation of visual cues, body language, sound and other contextual clues.

Semiotics linked with both linguistics and psychology. Semioticians thus not only study what symbol implies but also how it got its meaning and how it functions to make meaning in society. Symbols allow human brain continuously to create meaning using sensory input. It also decode symbols through both denotation and connotation.

Symbolic value:

Symbols can carry symbolic value in three primary forms: Ideological, comparative and isomorphic. The Ideological symbols such as religious and state symbols convey complex sets of beliefs. Its give ideas that indicate “the right thing to do”.

Comparative symbols such as prestigious office addresses, fine art and prominent awards indicate answers to questions of “better or worse” and “superior or inferior”. Isomorphic symbols blend in with surrounding cultural environment. Such that they enable individuals and organizations to conform to their surroundings and evade social and political scrutiny.

Examples of symbols with isomorphic value include wearing a professional dress during business meetings. Also shaking hands to greet others in West or bowing to greet others in the East. A single symbol can carry multiple distinct meanings such that it provides multiple types of symbolic value.

Historical meaning:

The history of a symbol is one of many factors in determining particular symbol’s apparent meaning. Consequently, symbols with emotive power carry problems analogous to false etymologies. A symbol’s meaning may modified by various factors including popular usage, history and contextual intent.

A Symbolic Action is an action that has no or little, practical effect. But symbolizes or signals, what actor wants or believes. The action conveys meaning to the viewers. Symbolic action may overlap with symbolic speech. Such as use of flag burning to express hostility or saluting flag to express patriotism.

In response to intense public criticism, businesses, organizations and governments may take symbolic actions. It take rather than or in addition to, directly addressing the identified problems.

Context:

The context of symbol may change its meaning. Similar five pointed stars might signify law enforcement officer or a member of the armed services, depending upon the uniform.

Some of the most popular symbols are:

This in-depth guide dives deep into symbols and meanings that are actually useful (for all of your graphic design needs).

• Heart symbol: this represents love, compassion and health.
• Dove symbol: this represents peace, love, and calm.
• Raven symbol: this represents death and doom.
• Tree symbol: this represents growth, nature, stability, and eternal life.
• Owl symbol: this represents wisdom and intelligence.
• Dragon symbol: this represents power, wisdom, strength, and mysticism.
• Butterfly symbol: this represents rebirth, beauty, and transformation.
• Dog symbol: this represents loyalty, protection, and companionship.
• Lion symbol: this represents courage, leadership, and royalty.
• Fox symbol: this represents slyness and cleverness

Symbol’s Names and Shapes:

Are We used Symbols in Graphic Design?

Symbols used in combination with text and images. It can make messages more meaningful and memorable than text alone. They have been use throughout the history of marketing and design.

They have the power to cross language barriers, and can help you engage with your audience on a deeper level than is possible with just words. Symbols can even be combined like words in a phrase to tell a powerful story.

Common symbols used in graphic design are:

1. Arrow symbol: used to represent directions
2. Cloud, rain, snow and sun symbol: used to represent weather
3. Power, disk, Wifi and Bluetooth symbol: used to represent tech
4. Wheelchair, information, bathroom and no-smoking symbol: used on different signs found in public places.

Here the 10 basic shapes, lines and their meanings:

• Circle: Completeness, cycles, continuation, playfulness
• Square: Stability, tradition, security, straightforward
• Triangle: Transformation, movement, balance
• Intersecting lines: Relationships, connectedness
• Spiral: Growth, evolution, transformation
• Five-pointed star: Excellence
• Arrow: Direction, movement, force
• Curved lines: Movement, connection, fluidity
• Diagonal lines: Tension, excitement
• Zigzag: Path, confusion

Conclusion:

The Symbol is a visual image or sign representing an idea, deeper indicator of universal truth. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by creating linkages between otherwise very different concepts and experiences. The Symbols are basis of all human understanding and serve as vehicles of conception for all human knowledge.

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