The section sign, written as § and commonly called the section mark or section symbol, is a typographic character used to indicate individual sections or numbered subdivisions within a document, statute, contract, or code. In legal and academic writing it replaces the word "section" in many citations and references, providing a compact, conventional shorthand that readers trained in these fields immediately recognize.

Form and encoding

In modern digital text the section sign is encoded at Unicode code point U+00A7. In HTML it can be produced with the entity § or by inserting the character directly. Typesetters and fonts render the glyph as a double-curved "S" shape; the exact form varies with typeface and region. When referring to more than one section, writers typically use the double symbol "§§" to indicate plural sections.

History and names

The symbol has roots in medieval scribal abbreviations and moved into print as an efficient locator of textual divisions. It is known by a variety of names in different languages and contexts—"section sign," "section mark," or informally "double S"—but should not be confused with the pilcrow (¶), which denotes paragraphs rather than statutory sections. In some European languages the same or similar marks may be called the paragraph sign, which can cause cross-linguistic confusion.

Uses, citation examples and conventions

The section sign is most often encountered in legal citations, statutes, regulations and scholarly references. For example, a United States Code citation that names a title and a section might be rendered as "16 U.S.C. § 580p" instead of spelling out the phrase "Title 16 of the United States Code Section 580p." Style manuals differ on spacing and punctuation around the sign; for guidance consult a jurisdiction's citation guide or a style manual such as the one used by the American Psychological Association (APA style) or a national legal code resource (legal codes).

Practical notes and input methods

Writers should be aware of a few practical details. In many languages the sign is placed immediately before the number ("§ 5" or "§5"), and the plural form uses two symbols ("§§ 5–7"). In typesetting and word processing, the glyph can be entered using platform-specific keyboard shortcuts (for example, numeric entry on Windows or option/alt combinations on some systems), or by inserting the Unicode code point. In LaTeX and other markup languages there are standard commands (for example, \S) to generate the symbol consistently in documents.

Distinctions and noteworthy facts

  • Pluralization: "§" denotes a single section; "§§" denotes multiple sections.
  • Different symbols for different divisions: The pilcrow (¶) indicates paragraphs, not sections.
  • Typographic variation: The appearance of § varies by font and may be customized for legibility in legal documents and signage.
  • Accessibility: When used in digital content, authors should ensure screen readers and citation systems convey the intended meaning, since the symbol substitutes for a word.

Because its primary role is functional rather than decorative, the section sign remains a concise tool for legal writers, editors, and publishers who need to point precisely to statutory or textual subdivisions. For authoritative rules on when and how to use it in a particular jurisdiction, consult the applicable citation manual or the codes themselves via legal codes.