Dagger (typography) facts for kids
A dagger is a special symbol used in writing, like a small cross or a sword shape. It usually looks like a straight line with one or two short lines crossing it. Sometimes, people also call it an obelisk. You can find this symbol in the Unicode system, which is a way computers understand text, at position 2020.
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What is a Dagger Symbol?
The dagger symbol is a type of punctuation mark, but it's not used as often as commas or periods. It's mostly found in books, articles, and other written works to point out special information. Think of it as a little flag that says, "Look here!"
Where Do We See Daggers?
Daggers are often used in books to show footnotes or cross-references. A footnote is a note at the bottom of a page that gives more information about something in the main text. If you see a dagger next to a word, it usually means there's a note at the bottom of the page explaining that word or idea.
They can also be used in lists or tables. For example, in some old texts, a single dagger might mark a person's death date. A double dagger might mark the birth date of someone who died before their first birthday. In dictionaries, daggers can sometimes show words that are no longer used.
The History of the Dagger Symbol
The dagger symbol has a long history. It comes from ancient times, even before printing presses were invented. Scribes, who were people who copied books by hand, used symbols like the dagger to mark parts of text that were unclear or needed attention.
The symbol we know today as a dagger comes from a mark used by ancient Greek scholars. They used it to show lines in Homer's epic poems that might have been added later or were not original. This helped readers understand which parts were truly from Homer.
Why is it Called an Obelisk?
The word "obelisk" comes from ancient Greek and means "little spit" or "pointed pillar." This name was given to the symbol because it looks a bit like the tall, thin, four-sided monuments called obelisks that were built by the ancient Egyptians. These huge stone pillars often had a pyramid shape at the top. The dagger symbol's shape reminded people of these ancient structures.
Different Kinds of Daggers
While the most common dagger is the single dagger (†), there are other versions too.
- A double dagger (‡) looks like two daggers joined together. It's often used when you need a second type of footnote or reference on the same page.
- Sometimes, you might even see a triple dagger, which has three crossbars. This is much rarer but can be used if many different notes are needed.
These symbols help writers organize information clearly, making it easier for readers to follow along and find extra details.
Images for kids
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A variant with three handles
See also
In Spanish: Obelisco (tipografía) para niños
