What Is This Symbol? Common English Symbols Explained

Have you ever looked at a symbol in English and thought, “What is this symbol?”

If you are learning English, you are not alone.

English writing uses many symbols, punctuation marks, and keyboard signs that can feel confusing at first. Some symbols are used in emails. Some are used in prices, social media, writing, lists, or formal documents.

This guide explains the most common symbols in English, what they are called, and how to use them correctly.

By the end, you will understand symbols like &, *, @, #, $, %, –, quotation marks, parentheses, ellipses, and bullet points.

Quick Guide: What Is This Symbol in English?

Here is a simple guide to the most common English symbols.

This table is useful when you see a symbol and need to quickly ask, “What is this symbol called in English?”

Why English Symbols Matter

Understanding English symbols is important because symbols help make writing clearer.

They can show money, numbers, extra information, direct speech, questions, lists, or digital information.

For example:

The ampersand & can mean and.

The asterisk * can point to extra information.

The at sign @ is used in email addresses.

The hashtag # is used on social media.

The dollar sign $ is used for prices.

If you do not understand these symbols, it can be easy to misunderstand a message, email, document, menu, price, or online post.

Learning common English symbols helps you read and write with more confidence.

Ampersand (&): Meaning and Examples

The symbol & is called an ampersand.

It usually means and.

You often see the ampersand in company names, brand names, titles, and short writing.

Examples:

Johnson & Johnson

Research & Development

Terms & Conditions

Sales & Marketing

Instead of writing:

Sales and Marketing

You may see:

Sales & Marketing

The meaning is the same.

The ampersand is useful when writing needs to be shorter or more visually balanced.

However, in formal writing, it is often better to write the full word and unless the ampersand is part of a company name or official title.

Asterisk (*): Meaning and Examples

The symbol * is called an asterisk.

It looks like a small star.

The asterisk is often used to show extra information, a note, a correction, or a condition.

For example:

Price: $20*

This may mean there is more information about the price.

You might see a note below:

*Taxes not included.

The asterisk can also be used for footnotes in articles, reports, or documents.

Example:

This offer is available for new customers only.*

Then at the bottom of the page:

*Terms and conditions apply.

In informal messages, people may also use an asterisk to correct a typo.

Example:

“I’ll meet you at tree.”
“*three”

This means the person wanted to write three, not tree.

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At Sign (@): Meaning and Examples

The symbol @ is called the at sign.

It is one of the most common symbols in digital English.

You see it in email addresses.

Example:

name@example.com

In this email address, the at sign separates the username from the domain.

You also see @ on social media.

Example:

@learnlaughspeak

On platforms like Instagram, X, TikTok, and LinkedIn, the at sign is used to mention or tag a person, brand, or account.

Example:

“Follow us @learnlaughspeak.”

The at sign is useful because it helps identify a specific email address or online profile.

Hashtag or Pound Sign (#): Meaning and Examples

The symbol # has more than one name.

It can be called:

Hashtag

Pound sign

Number sign

In social media, it is usually called a hashtag.

Example:

#EnglishLearning

#BusinessEnglish

#LearnEnglish

A hashtag helps group posts by topic. If you click a hashtag, you can often see other posts about the same subject.

In American English, # can also be called the pound sign, especially on phones.

Example:

“Press the pound key.”

It can also mean number.

Example:

#1

This means:

number one

So when someone asks, “What is this symbol?” and points to #, the answer depends on the context.

On social media, it is usually a hashtag.

On a phone, it may be called the pound sign.

Before a number, it may mean number.

Dollar Sign ($): Meaning and Examples

The symbol $ is called the dollar sign.

It is used to show money or prices.

Example:

$10

This means:

ten dollars

You may see the dollar sign in prices, invoices, menus, websites, and financial documents.

Examples:

$25 per person

Total: $150

The price increased by $5

The dollar sign is commonly used for the United States dollar, but it can also appear with other currencies.

For example:

CAD$ = Canadian dollars

AUD$ = Australian dollars

MXN$ = Mexican pesos in some contexts

When writing about money, the dollar sign usually goes before the number.

Correct:

$50

Not:

50$

Percentage Sign (%): Meaning and Examples

The symbol % is called the percentage sign.

It means percent or out of 100.

Example:

50%

This means:

fifty percent

or

50 out of 100

The percentage sign is common in math, reports, business, finance, sales, discounts, and statistics.

Examples:

20% discount

Sales increased by 15%

Only 5% of customers cancelled

I ate 75% of the cake

The percentage sign helps show proportions clearly.

If something increases by 20%, it means the increase is 20 parts out of 100.

Hyphen (-): Meaning and Examples

The symbol – is called a hyphen.

A hyphen is a short line used to connect words or numbers.

It is often used in compound words.

Examples:

well-known

long-term

part-time

self-confidence

English-speaking

The hyphen helps show that two words work together.

Example:

“She is a well-known teacher.”

Here, well-known describes the teacher.

Hyphens are also used in number words.

Examples:

twenty-one

forty-five

ninety-nine

They can also show a range.

Example:

5-10 minutes

This means:

from 5 to 10 minutes

Be careful not to confuse a hyphen with a dash.

A hyphen is usually used inside words or number ranges.

A dash is usually used to separate ideas in a sentence.

Quotation Marks (“ ”): Meaning and Examples

The symbols “ ” are called quotation marks.

They are also sometimes called speech marks or inverted commas.

Quotation marks are used to show exact words, direct speech, or a quote.

Example:

She said, “I love learning English.”

The quotation marks show the exact words she said.

Quotation marks are also used when quoting from a book, article, website, or person.

Example:

The article says, “Practice is important for fluency.”

They can also be used around titles of short works, such as article titles or short stories, depending on the style guide.

In English, quotation marks help the reader understand which words are being repeated exactly.

Parentheses ( ): Meaning and Examples

The symbols ( ) are called parentheses.

They are also called round brackets.

Parentheses are used to add extra information inside a sentence.

Example:

“My sister (who is a doctor) will join us for dinner.”

The information inside the parentheses gives extra detail, but the sentence still makes sense without it.

Parentheses can also show an explanation, date, reference, or example.

Examples:

“Learn Laugh Speak (LLS) helps adults learn English.”

“The meeting is on Friday (June 14).”

“Please bring one form of ID (passport, licence, or official document).”

Parentheses are useful, but do not use them too much. Too many parentheses can make writing harder to read.

Ellipsis (…): Meaning and Examples

The symbol … is called an ellipsis.

It is made of three dots.

An ellipsis can show that words are missing, that a thought is unfinished, or that there is a pause.

Example:

“I was going to tell you something, but…”

This shows that the speaker stopped before finishing the thought.

Ellipses are also used in quotes when part of the original text has been removed.

Example:

Original sentence:

“Learning English takes time, patience, practice, and confidence.”

Shortened quote:

“Learning English takes time… and confidence.”

In informal writing, people sometimes use ellipses to create suspense or hesitation.

Example:

“I’m not sure…”

However, in professional writing, use ellipses carefully. Too many ellipses can make your writing look unclear or unfinished.

Bullet Point (•): Meaning and Examples

The symbol • is called a bullet point.

Bullet points are used to organize information in a list.

They help make writing easier to scan and understand.

Example:

You can use bullet points for:

• key ideas
• steps
• tasks
• short notes
• lists
• important details

Bullet points are common in:

Emails.

Presentations.

Reports.

Resumes.

Lesson notes.

Instructions.

When using bullet points, keep each point short and clear.

Avoid writing very long paragraphs after each bullet point.

Good bullet points help the reader quickly understand the main information.

Common Mistakes With Symbols in English

English learners often understand the symbol but do not know the correct name.

Here are some common mistakes.

When you are not sure, it is okay to ask:

“What is this symbol called in English?”

or

“What does this symbol mean?”

These are natural questions and useful for English learners.

FAQ: English Symbols and Meanings

What is this symbol & called?

The symbol & is called an ampersand.

It means and.

Example:

Research & Development

means:

Research and Development

What is this symbol * called?

The symbol * is called an asterisk.

It is used for footnotes, extra information, corrections, or emphasis.

Example:

Offer ends Friday*

The asterisk may refer to extra conditions.

What is this symbol @ called?

The symbol @ is called the at sign.

It is used in email addresses and social media handles.

Example:

name@example.com

What is this symbol # called?

The symbol # can be called a hashtag, pound sign, or number sign.

The name depends on the context.

On social media, it is usually called a hashtag.

Example:

#LearnEnglish

What is this symbol $ called?

The symbol $ is called the dollar sign.

It is used to show money or prices.

Example:

$20

means:

twenty dollars

What is this symbol % called?

The symbol % is called the percentage sign.

It means percent or out of 100.

Example:

50%

means:

fifty percent

What is this symbol … called?

The symbol … is called an ellipsis.

It shows a pause, missing words, or an unfinished thought.

Example:

“I was going to say something, but…”

What is this symbol • called?

The symbol • is called a bullet point.

It is used to organize information in a list.

Learn English Symbols With Learn Laugh Speak

Understanding English symbols helps you read and write more clearly.

Symbols appear in emails, messages, social media, prices, reports, websites, lessons, and workplace communication.

If you are learning English, knowing the names and meanings of common symbols can help you feel more confident when reading or writing.

Learn Laugh Speak helps adult English learners improve reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the correct level.

Students complete a full level assessment and start learning from the exact point that matches their ability.

This means you can build your English step by step with structured lessons, real examples, and instant corrections.

If you often ask “what is this symbol?” or “what is this called in English?”, Learn Laugh Speak can help you understand English more clearly and use it with confidence.

Final Thoughts on English Symbols

English symbols may look small, but they are important.

They help explain money, percentages, lists, direct speech, email addresses, social media tags, extra information, and more.

The next time you see a symbol and wonder, “What is this symbol?”, use this guide to help you identify its name and meaning.

The more symbols you understand, the easier English reading and writing becomes.