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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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hashtag symbol

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hashtag symbol" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the symbol "#" that is commonly used in social media to categorize content or indicate a topic. Example: "To find more information on the event, search for the hashtag symbol followed by the event name."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

One effective way to build follower headcount is to use hashtags – words proceeded with a hashtag symbol – which help users to discover specific Instagram posts.

News & Media

The Guardian

Jennifer Van Grove believes the hashtag symbol is Facebook's "obvious hole".

News & Media

The New York Times

As footage of the incident emerged, this phrase quickly became a hashtag symbol of defiant unity.

Please note: For simplicity's sake, from here on we'll refer to each chat without the hashtag symbol.

News & Media

The New York Times

To avoid this problem, people use the hashtag symbol # before a relevant keyword or phrase in their tweets to categorize those tweets and help them show more easily in each Twitter search.

The central role that Maaco and Pitch hope Twitter will play in the campaign is demonstrated by the fact that the ads render "Maacover" as "#Maacover," including the hashtag symbol.

News & Media

The New York Times
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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Before performing this step, the noisy contents of tweets must be removed, such as emotion symbols (e.g., ❤❤), hashtag symbols, link url @username and others.

Hashtag symbols are often used to categorize certain Tweets so that they can display in searches for a specific keyword or phrase, or to mark or bring attention to specific keywords.

In collective tagging systems, by tagging we can describe the content of an object – an image, a song or a document – label it using any lexical expression preceded by the "hashtag" (the symbol "#") and share it with our friends and followers or also recommend it to an audience of strangers.

Some Occupy groups have adopted the fist or hashtag as symbols.

Earlier this year Facebook began supporting hashtags (the # symbol immediately preceding a subject or keyword), and at the time I wrote this piece on why businesses should care about them.

News & Media

Forbes
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about hashtags, clarify that the "hashtag symbol" precedes the keyword or phrase. This helps readers understand how to properly use hashtags.

Common error

Avoid referring to the "hashtag symbol" as merely the "number sign" or "pound sign" without context, as these terms can be ambiguous. Always ensure the reader understands you're referring to its use in social media tagging.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hashtag symbol" primarily functions as a noun phrase, identifying the specific character used to create hashtags. Ludwig examples show it used to explain the purpose and usage of the symbol.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hashtag symbol" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to the '#' character, especially in the context of social media. As Ludwig AI confirms, this term is usable in written English and primarily functions to describe or explain the symbol's purpose. It's frequently found in news articles, scientific papers, and wiki pages, indicating a neutral register. When using the phrase, remember to clarify its role in tagging and social media to avoid ambiguity. Common alternatives include "hash symbol", "pound symbol", and "number sign".

FAQs

What is another name for a "hashtag symbol"?

Another name for a "hashtag symbol" is "hash symbol", "pound symbol", or "number sign" depending on context.

How do I properly use a "hashtag symbol"?

The "hashtag symbol" is used to mark keywords or topics in social media. It is placed before a word or phrase without spaces to categorize the content, like this: #examplehashtag.

Why is the "hashtag symbol" important in social media?

The "hashtag symbol" helps users to discover content related to specific topics. By using hashtags, posts become searchable and can reach a wider audience interested in that topic.

What happens if I use other symbols within a "hashtag"?

The "hashtag" will only recognize the characters before the symbol. Therefore, avoid using punctuation marks or other symbols within a "hashtag" to ensure it functions correctly.

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Most frequent sentences: