Re: [math-fun] octothorpe: M-W's Word of the Day
Fred asks: << how does one establish the name of a given typographical symbol? E.g. "obelus" refers to a dagger sign ---- but if I didn't already know that, how could I find out?
Many dictionaries (in the U.S., at least) have a section titled something like Signs and Symbols, where one can look that kind of thing up. (Probably an excellent example would be Merriam-Webster's Third New International Unabridged Dictionary, though many abridged dicts. have rather adequate such lists.) It would be nice if there were such a thing on the web. (A quick check of Wikipedia suggests there is not much on the subject in that resource.) --Dan
On Fri, 9 Nov 2007, Dan Asimov wrote:
Fred asks:
<< how does one establish the name of a given typographical symbol? E.g. "obelus" refers to a dagger sign ---- but if I didn't already know that, how could I find out?
Google the phrase "names of symbols" and you will find: http://www.symbols.com/ Searching there on "dagger sign" you will find: http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/20/2027.html which tells you about the name "obelus" --also "obelisk".
On 11/10/07, Edwin Clark <eclark@math.usf.edu> wrote:
On Fri, 9 Nov 2007, Dan Asimov wrote:
Fred asks:
<< how does one establish the name of a given typographical symbol? E.g. "obelus" refers to a dagger sign ---- but if I didn't already know that, how could I find out?
Google the phrase "names of symbols" and you will find:
Searching there on "dagger sign" you will find:
http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/20/2027.html
which tells you about the name "obelus" --also "obelisk".
Very nice, ta! I liked "arroba" (Spanish) for the at-sign ... WFL
participants (3)
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Dan Asimov -
Edwin Clark -
Fred lunnon