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‧

hyphenation point

Hyphenation Point

In a dictionary, ‧ (the division dot) marks where a word may break at the end of a line. It shows where a hyphen may appear; the break does not necessarily match a spoken syllable boundary.

Text symbol

Also called: division dot · word division dot · end-of-line dot
Search it as: raised dot · dictionary dot · word break dot
Shows up in: Anything that takes text · its shape is whatever your font draws

What ‧ means

It marks a permissible end-of-line division. In a dictionary entry such as dic‧tionary, the division dot shows where a line may break with a hyphen. The Unicode Standard cites a related word-division example in an 1843 dictionary.

Is this a syllable marker?

No. A division dot shows where spelling may be split for line layout; it does not necessarily mark a spoken syllable. One dictionary example allows dic‧tionary to break as dic-tionary or dictio-nary, while pronunciation notation marks syllables separately.

It belongs in dictionaries and language references, where it guides word division for line layout.

Do not use it as a decorative middle dot in ordinary prose.

Don't confuse it with

Middle Dot

A middle dot has several uses; ‧ specifically marks dictionary word division.

Hyphen-Minus

A hyphen is the mark used at the line break; this dot shows a possible break in a dictionary entry.

Vertical Line

Some dictionaries use a vertical bar to mark word division; it is a different convention from this raised dot.

Questions people ask

Does a hyphenation point turn into a hyphen?

Usually. Line-breaking guidance says that when a line breaks at this point, it ends with a hyphen.

How to type ‧

Windows (Word)

Alt+XType 2027, then Alt+X to get ‧.

Windows

Win+Rrun charmap for the full table, or use the emoji picker's Ω symbols tab (Win + .).

macOS

Control+Command+SpaceOpen the character viewer and search “hyphenation point”.

Linux

Ctrl+Shift+UType 2027, then Enter or Space.

HTML

‧

CSS

\2027

Code

In a programming language that supports Unicode escapes, write `\u2027`.

Codes and encoding1 code points

HTML decimal

‧

HTML hex

‧

CSS content

content: "\2027";

Each escape is closed by the next backslash; a trailing space is needed before a literal hex digit.

URL encoded

%E2%80%A7

On screen

Code points

JS .length

UTF-8 bytes

A visible symbol can contain several code points. JS .length counts UTF-16 units; UTF-8 counts bytes.

Families this belongs to

Typography & punctuation332 symbols

‼️❗⁉️❓❔❕〰️!"#%&