The symbol ¶ is called a pilcrow. It is the paragraph mark, a sign used to show where a new paragraph begins. In modern writing, we usually start a paragraph by indenting or adding space, so the symbol itself is often hidden from everyday readers.
The pilcrow still appears in a few common places:
- Proofreading and editing: Editors may use ¶ to show that a new paragraph should start. Example: Insert ¶ before this sentence.
- Word processors: Many programs can display formatting marks. When this setting is on, you may see ¶ at the end of each paragraph, along with dots for spaces and other hidden marks.
- References and legal writing: The symbol can point to a specific paragraph in a document, especially when paragraph numbers matter.
The name pilcrow comes from an older word related to paragraph. Even if you rarely type it yourself, knowing its name is useful when talking about editing, formatting, and document structure.