Character Test: Know Your Slash from Your Dash

November 7th, 2011

Because sometimes a tiny character can make a huge difference!

/ forward slash
Leans forward. Forward slashes are for Internet addresses.

: colon
Also used in Internet addresses. Traditionally this mark informs the reader that what follows the mark proves, explains, or lists elements of what preceded the mark. (Wikipedia)

backslash
Leans backward. Backslashes are for Windows folder and file names.

/ Slash
Former lead guitarist for Guns N' Roses. Born Saul Hudson in London, England.

- hyphen
Sometimes called a "dash," but these should be used to hyphenate things. 🙂

– en dash
Rarely used. Typography sticklers use them to indicate a period of time. January–June; The years 2001–2003.

-- em dash
Indicate(s) added emphasis, an interruption, or an abrupt change of thought. Can be used in place of parentheses or commas in informal writing. Em dashes don't always render correctly in web browsers. A common workaround is to use two hyphens -- with a space on each end.

_ underscore
These are helpful for naming documents that will be uploaded to the web because they separate words and improve readability. (Files on the web cannot have spaces in their names; any spaces are typically replaced with the unsightly % (percentage character).

| pipe, or vertical bar
A lovely character, don't you think? Very handy for title tags on websites.