Typography and punctuation marks are often overlooked when it comes to design. However, they can be used to add visual interest to your work and make it stand out from the crowd. In this blog, we will explore eight uncommon typography and punctuation marks that you can use to give your designs a unique edge.
From the classic ampersand to the rarely seen interrobang, we will show you how to use these marks to add a touch of personality to your work. So, let’s dive in and discover the creative possibilities of these eight uncommon typography and punctuation marks.
Contents
Overview of the eight uncommon typography and punctuation marks
Typography and punctuation marks are the building blocks of good writing. While most people are familiar with the classic punctuation marks, there are several lesser-known marks that are worth exploring.
In this blog, we’ll be taking a look at eight uncommon typography and punctuation marks – symbols that can add subtle nuance, clarity and even humor to your written prose. The first of these is the interrobang, a combination of a question mark and an exclamation point. This mark is usually used at the end of a sentence that expresses strong surprise and emotion.
For example, “I just received a raise!⁉” Adding the interrobang highlights the excitement of the situation.
The asterism is another interesting and fairly uncommon typography mark. It’s made up of three asterisks and usually used to separate paragraphs or page sections. This symbol can also be used to indicate that something is missing, thereby creating a sense of intrigue for the reader.
For example, you might use it if you’re recording snippets of dialogue and you can’t recall the specific phrase that was used. The dingbat is another three-asterisk symbol, albeit slightly different in shape and with its own unique meaning. This symbol is meant to signify that an omission or interruption has occurred.
The dingbat may be used to also highlight irony, as in the sentence, “He said he was going to get an A…⁂”. Here, the reader has a glimpse of what the speaker was hoping for, yet can’t help but laugh at their expectations being dashed.
Finally, the snarkmark and quibbling hill are two slightly more obscure typography marks that can be used to indicate humor and sarcasm. The snarkmark is made up of one single bracket and symbolizes a muttered aside or muted snark, as seen in the statement, “It’s not like anyone wanted to come. [ ]”. Meanwhile, the quibbling hill is made up of two opposing hills and can be used to symbolize irony or disbelief, as in the phrase, “He said he wanted to be a millionaire (`. `)”. With quibbling hill, the reader can sense the irony of the situation without needing any further explanation. These eight uncommon typography and punctuation marks add a unique flavor to your writing and can be used to great effect. Next time you’re writing something, why not experiment with one of these symbols? Your readers will thank you — and they may even be amused.
History of the eight uncommon typography and punctuation marks
With the emergence of digital tools, the use of typography and punctuation marks has become increasingly sophisticated. From the use of italics to add emphasis or the use of exclamation marks to express surprise, typography and punctuation are integral parts of writing.
In this blog post, a detailed discussion on the history of eight uncommon typography and punctuation marks will be provided. The eight uncommon typography and punctuation marks discussed in this blog include the en and em dash, the interrobang, the ellipsis, the dagger, the hyphen, the asterisk, the question mark, and the parentheses. Each of these marks has a unique purpose and can help enhance and spice up written communication.
The en and em dash were first used in the 16th century, with the en dash in England used to indicate ranges of numbers, and the em dash primarily used in France to indicate the end of a sentence. The en dash is slightly longer than the hyphen and often used to connect two words to convey a specific meaning.
The em dash is much longer than the en dash and usually used in place of commas or parentheses for greater emphasis. The interrobang is a combination of the question mark and exclamation mark and was designed by Martin Speckter in 196 It is often used to express opinion emphatically as a single punctuation mark conveys multiple emotions.
The ellipsis is a punctuation mark consisting of three dots and was first used in the 15th century by Nicholas Udall in his translation of the Latin Bible. It is usually used to convey a sense of hesitant or trailing off speech or the omission of one or more words. The dagger is also known as an obelisk and is used to indicate footnote.
The hyphen is used to separate syllables of a word or join separate words, while the asterisk is used to provide a footnote or denote an omission or obscenity. The question mark is one of the most widely used punctuation marks and is used to indicate a direct question.
Finally, parentheses are used to separate a statement from the main clause and provide additional or supplemental information. To sum up, the history of eight uncommon typography and punctuation marks discussed in this blog post are en and em dash, interrobang, ellipsis, dagger, hyphen, asterisk, question mark, and parentheses. Each of these marks provides an additional level of depth and clarity to communication and can help enhance the reader’s engagement with the written communication.
Benefits of using the eight uncommon typography and punctuation marks
Using uncommon typography and punctuation marks can be a great way to set your written works apart from the crowd. It can also offer more clarity and visual appeal that plain text cannot, creating a more engaging and enjoyable reader experience.
The eight marks we will be discussing in this blog are the Interrobang, Strapeh, Pilcrow, Caret, Iron Duke, Dagger, Asterism, and the Manicule. Each of these marks has their own unique purpose and plays a crucial role in helping to bring life to your writing. The Interrobang is a symbol used to denote surprise or excitement, and is often used in place of the traditional !
and ? to add a bit of flair. The Strapeh is a typographical sign used to show the end of a paragraph.
It goes at the end of a sentence, just like a period would. The Pilcrow is a paragraph formatting mark which is used to denote the start of a new paragraph.
This can be used in place of the traditional carriage return to give a more subtle indication of a new paragraph. The Caret is a symbol used to indicate where something should be inserted into a sentence or paragraph.
The Iron Duke is an old typographical symbol used to note the end of a longer quote. The Dagger can be used as an addition to words or a sentence to indicate emphasis or to further explain the text. The Asterism is a typographical symbol used to stand in for a reference or explanatory note in a text.
Finally, the Manicule is a symbol used to show the writer’s emphasis or mark important sections in the text. This suite of typographical and punctuation marks can greatly enhance the clarity and feel of written works. They may be a little uncommon, but their use can really bring a sentence alive and make it stand out. So the next time you’re looking to spice up your writing, don’t forget to use these eight symbols — you won’t regret it!
Tips for using the eight uncommon typography and punctuation marks
The world of typography is ever-evolving, with more and more symbols constantly being added and revised. But there are some symbols that have remained uncommon and often misunderstood.
In this blog, we will take a look at eight of the most unusual typography and punctuation marks, and provide some useful tips on how to use them. The first of these is the question mark, commonly written in the form of an upside-down ‘V’. This symbol is used to indicate a query or an inquire, and can be used in written form, or to mark the end of a spoken statement.
When a question mark is used in the middle of a sentence, it indicates that the preceding statement is a question. Next is the asterisk, used to either add emphasis on an idea or comment, or to refer the reader to a footnote or additional information in the main text. It can also be used to highlight certain words for further clarity.
For example, the asterisk can be used to emphasize a word in a single sentence, or to indicate that the next sentence is an addendum. Another symbol is the exclamation mark, used to emphasize a statement and to signify excitement.
When used more thanonce in a row, the exclamation mark can indicate shouting or anger. However, it is important to be careful when using this punctuation mark, as it can quickly become overused and ineffectual. The fourth punctuation mark is the slash, indicated by a forward-slash /.
This symbol can be used to create a break in a sentence, to indicate an “either/or” relationship, or to denote a fraction. However, it is important to use caution when using a slash since double-slashes can imply that the words preceding them are referring to the same context.
The next symbol is the hyphen or dash, indicated by a short horizontal line -. This punctuation mark is usually used to create a break in a sentence and can indicate parenthetical comments or long-form explanations. It can also be used to indicate a range of numbers. The ellipsis is another typography mark, made up of three full dots Often used to indicate that additional information is coming, this punctuation mark stands in for a pause or an unfinished thought. It is also commonly used in dialogue to indicate an incomplete sentence. The seventh symbol is the at symbol, or @, which is typically used to bring attention to a mentioned person, place, or thing. More recently, it has been used as way to label the subject of an email address. It should not be used in place of the word ‘at’ though as this is considered inappropriate. Finally, the last symbol is the quotation mark, indicated by double inverted commas “. This symbol is most commonly used to set apart quoted statements, or to single out words or phrases that have a special emphasis. It is also frequently used in formal written works to indicate the title of a work or a book. As you can see, there are a variety of typography and punctuation marks that can all be used for different purposes. If you are ever unsure about how to use a certain symbol or punctuation mark, it is best to look it up and make sure that you are using it correctly. With these eight uncommon typography and punctuation marks, you can be sure to properly punctuate any type of written work.
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Bottom Line
This article discussed eight uncommon typography and punctuation marks. These include the asterism, interrobang, manicule, octothorpe, percontation point, section sign, tilde and typographic quotes.
Each of these marks has a unique use and can be used to add emphasis or clarity to writing. This article provides an overview of these marks and their uses.
FAQ
What is the purpose of uncommon typography and punctuation marks?
The purpose of uncommon typography and punctuation marks is to add emphasis and visual interest to text, making it more engaging and easier to read.
What are some examples of uncommon typography and punctuation marks?
Examples of uncommon typography and punctuation marks include the interrobang (‽), the asterism (⁂), the hedera (⁕), the section sign (§), and the pilcrow (¶).
How do uncommon typography and punctuation marks affect the meaning of a text?
Uncommon typography and punctuation marks can affect the meaning of a text by emphasizing certain words or phrases, creating a sense of urgency or emotion, or adding clarity to the text. They can also be used to create a unique style or tone for the text.
How can uncommon typography and punctuation marks be used to create emphasis?
Uncommon typography and punctuation marks can be used to create emphasis by making text stand out and draw attention. This can be done by using bold, italic, or underlined fonts, as well as larger font sizes, different colors, and symbols such as exclamation points, asterisks, and question marks.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using uncommon typography and punctuation marks?
The advantages of using uncommon typography and punctuation marks are that they can help to draw attention to certain words or phrases, and can be used to create a unique and visually interesting design. The disadvantages are that they can be difficult to read and can be confusing to readers who are unfamiliar with them.
How can uncommon typography and punctuation marks be used to convey emotion in a text?
Uncommon typography and punctuation marks can be used to convey emotion in a text by emphasizing certain words or phrases, adding emphasis to a sentence, or creating a visual representation of the emotion being expressed. For example, using an exclamation point (!) to express excitement, a question mark (?) to express confusion, or italics to emphasize a particular word or phrase.
