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Pilcrow (Paragraph Mark) Symbol (¶)
The pilcrow (¶) marks a paragraph — proofreaders use it to show where a new paragraph should start.
Pilcrow (Paragraph Mark) codes
| Code | Value |
|---|---|
| Unicode code point | U+00B6 |
| Unicode name | Pilcrow Sign |
| HTML named entity | ¶ |
| HTML decimal | ¶ |
| HTML hex | ¶ |
| CSS content code | \B6 |
| JavaScript / JSON | \u00B6 |
| Windows Alt code | Alt+0182 |
Pilcrow (Paragraph Mark) variants (4)
4 related glyphs — click any tile to copy it. Tiles with a page open that symbol's own page.
Meaning & usage
¶ began as a decorated capital C for 'capitulum' (chapter) in medieval manuscripts and slimmed into today's backward-P. Editors mark paragraph breaks with it, Word's formatting view sprinkles it at every paragraph end, and legal writing cites paragraphs with it (¶ 12) just as § cites sections.
Fan communities also know it as the 'alinea'. Alt+0182 types it on Windows.
Examples in use
- See ¶ 4 of the judgment
- Insert a paragraph break ¶ here (editor's note)
- Word: turn on ¶ to reveal formatting
How to type the pilcrow (paragraph mark)
Windows
Hold the Alt key and type 0182 on the numeric keypad (Num Lock on), then release Alt. The code is Alt+0182. It also works in Word with the same keys.
Mac
There is no Option-key shortcut for ¶ on a Mac. Open the Character Viewer with Control+Command+Space, search for "Pilcrow (Paragraph Mark)", and double-click to insert — or copy it from this page.
iPhone & Android
Most phone keyboards have no built-in key for ¶. Open this page on your phone, tap Copy, then paste it into your message or bio. (On Android, Gboard's emoji search finds some symbols by name.)
Linux
Press Ctrl+Shift+U, type 00b6 and press Enter (works in most GTK apps and terminals with IBus). Or copy it from this page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I type ¶ on a keyboard?
On Windows, hold Alt and type 0182 on the numeric keypad. On a Mac, press Option+7. Or copy ¶ from this page.
What is the difference between ¶ and §?
¶ marks a paragraph; § marks a section — a bigger division. Legal citations use both: § 5, ¶ 2 means section 5, paragraph 2.
Why does ¶ sometimes show as a box or question mark?
The box (called tofu) means the device or font viewing it has no drawing for U+00B6 (Pilcrow Sign). The character itself is fine — try a different font or a newer device, or use one of the variants on this page.
Is the Pilcrow (Paragraph Mark) free to use?
Yes. ¶ is a standard Unicode text character published in the Unicode Character Database. You may use it in personal and commercial documents, designs and products without permission or payment.
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Data: Unicode Character Database · Page updated 2026-11-13