How to type the paragraph symbol
Use the shortcut for the device or app you have open, or copy the symbol above.
- Windows (numeric keypad)
- Hold Alt and type 0182 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt
- Windows (Word)
- Type 00B6 then press Alt + X
- Mac
- Option + 7 on a US keyboard layout
- iPhone / iPad
- Copy ¶ from this page, or add a Text Replacement in Settings → General → Keyboard
- Android
- Open the keyboard symbol pages (?123, then =\<) to look for ¶, or copy it from this page
- Google Docs
- Insert → Special characters and search for pilcrow
- Microsoft Word
- Type 00B6 then Alt + X, Option + 7 on Mac, or Insert → Symbol
What is the paragraph symbol?
The paragraph symbol ¶ is Unicode U+00B6 PILCROW SIGN. It marks a paragraph break or points to a paragraph in a document, and editors use it to show where paragraphs end.
How to type the paragraph symbol and what it marks
On Windows with a numeric keypad, hold Alt and type 0182. On a Mac, press Option + 7. In Word, type 00B6 then Alt + X. Google Docs has Insert → Special characters, where a search for pilcrow finds it. On a phone, the copy button above is the quickest route.
The symbol has two main jobs. In legal and academic citation, ¶ points to a numbered paragraph, as in ¶ 12, and ¶¶ points to several paragraphs. In editing and word processing, ¶ is the formatting mark that shows where a paragraph ends. In Word on Windows, Ctrl + Shift + 8 toggles those marks, and on a Mac the shortcut is Command + 8.
The mark has a long history in manuscripts, where it signaled the start of a new section of text. Today it is a standard Unicode character in the Latin-1 block, so it works in nearly every font and app. UTF-8 encodes it as the two bytes C2 B6.
On the web, write ¶ or ¶ in HTML, or paste ¶ into a UTF-8 file. In CSS content, use the escape \00B6. Some sites use ¶ as a permalink marker next to headings, which works well as a plain text link label.
The nearby characters in the related row cover the other cases. § (U+00A7) is the section sign, ⁋ (U+204B) is the reversed pilcrow, and ❡ (U+2761) is a decorative paragraph ornament. Pick § for sections and ¶ for paragraphs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Alt code for the paragraph symbol?
On Windows with a numeric keypad, hold Alt and type 0182 to get ¶.
How do I type ¶ on a Mac?
Press Option + 7 on a US keyboard layout.
What is the HTML code for the paragraph symbol?
Use ¶ or ¶ in HTML. In CSS, the escape is \00B6.
What is the pilcrow?
“Pilcrow” is the traditional name of the paragraph symbol ¶. Its Unicode name is PILCROW SIGN.
How do I show paragraph marks in Word?
Press Ctrl + Shift + 8 on Windows or Command + 8 on Mac to toggle formatting marks, or click the ¶ button on the Home tab.
Is the paragraph symbol free to use?
Yes. It is a standard Unicode character, free to copy and paste with no account required.