octothorpe

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'octothorpe' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is a rarely used term that refers to the symbol "#" or "pound sign" on a keyboard. Example: To speak to a customer service representative, please press the octothorpe key followed by your account number.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

He gives history and usage for "the sensuous ampersand," the @ symbol, the irrepressible hash mark (a.k.a. the pound sign and the octothorpe), and the upstart interrobang, as well as the pilcrow, emoticons, and the search for an enduring irony mark.

The New Yorker

In his new book, "Shady Characters: The Secret Life of Punctuation, Symbols & Other Typographical Marks," Keith Houston reveals the stories behind esoteric punctuation marks, from the pilcrow to the manicule to the octothorpe, a.k.a. the hashtag.

The New Yorker

The great punctuation comeback: on the rise of the octothorpe, alias the hash, the crunch, the hex, the flash, the grid.

The New Yorker

Five years ago, Twitter's users invented what's now known as the hashtag: a pithy phrase, preceded by that hungry octothorpe, used to either label or comment on the preceding tweet.

The New York Times

The term octothorpe was coined by engineers at Bell Laboratories in the early 1960s, who wanted a name for one of two non-number function symbols on the first touch-tone keypads (the other was the *, which they called a sextile).

The Guardian - Arts

Houston discusses 10 major typographical marks or groups of symbols: the pilcrow, the interrobang, the octothorpe the ampersand, the @ symbol, the asterisk and the dagger (* and †), the hyphen, the dash, the manicule (☞, ☜, and ☝ or ☟), and quotation marks of various kinds (" ", ' ', and  ).

The Guardian - Books

It was first brought to a wider public thanks to its adoption by telephone engineers at Bell Labs in the 1960s as the generic function symbol on their new touch-tone phones – and if you're looking to sound clever, you could call it an "octothorpe", the tongue-in-cheek term coined at Bell to describe it.

The Guardian - Books

According to the buzz on Twitter and the blogosphere, the rebranded symbol of 2010 is the octothorpe.

The Guardian - Arts

Don't worry – almost no one knows it's called an octothorpe, and most of those who do don't call it that.

The Guardian - Arts

The octothorpe is the essential symbol in the formation of a hashtag, a marker that allows 140-character tweets to be grouped together by subject (#boringtypographystories, for example).

The Guardian - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Octothorpe The story of the hashtag begins sometime around the fourteenth century, with the introduction of the Latin abbreviation "lb," for the Roman term libra pondo, or "pound weight".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "octothorpe" when you want to sound technical or knowledgeable about typography or the history of the '#' symbol. However, be aware that it's not a widely recognized term.

Common error

Don't use "octothorpe" interchangeably with similar-looking symbols like the multiplication sign or the musical sharp symbol. "Octothorpe" specifically refers to the '#' symbol.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "octothorpe" is as a noun. It serves as a label or name for a specific symbol (#), as shown in Ludwig's examples. It functions to identify or refer to that symbol in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "octothorpe" is a valid but less common term for the '#' symbol, also known as the hash, pound sign, or number sign. As Ludwig demonstrates, it's mostly used in technical or historical contexts, particularly when discussing typography or the symbol's origins. While grammatically correct, it's not as widely recognized as its more common synonyms. Ludwig AI confirms that the term is correct and can be used, although sparingly, to sound technically knowledgeable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the # symbol

Explicitly identifies the symbol.

hash symbol

Focuses on the symbol's visual representation.

hash mark

Another common name for the symbol.

pound sign

Emphasizes its use in telephony and some regions.

number sign

Highlights its usage for marking numbers.

hashtag symbol

Relates specifically to its use on social media.

grid symbol

Describes its appearance as a grid.

square symbol

Emphasizes its squared form.

crosshatch

Refers to the crossed lines that make up the symbol.

telephone key symbol

Highlights its origin from telephone keypads.

FAQs

What does "octothorpe" mean?

The term "octothorpe" refers to the '#' symbol, commonly known as the hash, pound sign, or number sign. It's a somewhat obscure term coined by Bell Labs engineers.

When should I use the word "octothorpe"?

Use "octothorpe" when you want to sound technical or are discussing the history of the '#' symbol. In most contexts, "hash", "pound sign", or "number sign" are more widely understood.

What are some other names for the "octothorpe" symbol?

The "octothorpe" symbol is also known as the "hash symbol", "pound sign", "number sign", and, in the context of social media, the "hashtag".

Is it correct to call the '#' symbol an "octothorpe"?

Yes, "octothorpe" is a correct, although uncommon, name for the '#' symbol. It's primarily used in technical or historical contexts related to the symbol.