Caret Below (‸) is the Unicode character at U+2038 in the General Punctuation block (official name: CARET). It is the traditional proofreading mark that points up from below the line to show where text should be inserted.
Remember
Character ‸
Unicode U+2038
Hex entity ‸
Decimal ‸
CSS escape \2038
Named entity (none)
All of these produce the same glyph: ‸. Prefer ASCII ^ for exponents and regex; use ‸ when you specifically need the proofreading caret.
Reference
Quick Reference
One table for every form you will actually use.
Form
Code
Where it goes
Direct character
‸
HTML text (UTF-8)
Hex entity
‸
HTML markup
Decimal entity
‸
HTML markup
CSS escape
\2038
Stylesheet content
Named entity
—
Not defined in HTML5
When to use which
Situation
Use
Need the proofreading caret ‸
Type ‸, or ‸ / ‸
Generated text via ::before / ::after
content: "\2038"
Exponents, regex, keyboard caret
Use ^ (U+005E)
Caret insertion point mark
Use ⁁ (U+2041)
Looking for ⁁ or similar
Does not exist for U+2038 — use numeric form
See it
Live Preview
Caret Below rendered in common writing contexts.
Inline textInsert here ‸ word
Large glyph‸
Compared^ ‸ ⁁
Monospacemark ‸ → insert
With entitiesHex: ‸ | Decimal: ‸
Code
Complete HTML Example
One page that shows Caret Below with the hex entity, decimal entity, CSS escape, and a typed character. Use View Output or open the live editor.
Hex + Decimal + CSS + Typed
All four ways to produce ‸ in a single document.
html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>Caret Below (‸) in HTML</title>
<style>
#point::after {
content: "\2038";
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>Caret Below using Hex Code: ‸</p>
<p>Caret Below using HTML Code: ‸</p>
<p id="point">Caret Below using CSS Entity: </p>
<p>Typed directly: ‸</p>
</body>
</html>
Caret Below using Hex Code: ‸
Caret Below using HTML Code: ‸
Caret Below using CSS Entity: ‸
Typed directly: ‸
How It Works
1. Hex:U+2038 → ‸ in HTML. The browser turns it into ‸.
2. Decimal: same code point as 8248 → ‸. Same result as hex.
3. CSS: use \2038 in content (not an HTML entity). #point::after appends that ‸ after the paragraph text.
4. Typed ‸: fine in UTF-8 pages. All four lines show the same glyph.
Pitfalls & Tips
Common mistakes when working with Caret Below entities.
Named?
No named entity
HTML5 does not define ⁁ for U+2038. Use numeric forms.
CSS vs HTML
Do not mix escapes
\2038 belongs in CSS. ‸ / ‸ belong in HTML.
‸ vs ^
Different characters
‸ is U+2038 (proofreading). ASCII ^ is U+005E.
Fonts
Check the glyph
General Punctuation coverage varies. If ‸ is missing, explain “insert here” in nearby text.
Semicolon
End references
Always finish with ; — write ‸, not ‸.
Meaning
Not a combining mark
‸ is a spacing character. It does not attach under a letter the way combining marks do.
Compatibility
Browser Support
Caret Below (U+2038) and its numeric entity forms (‸, ‸, CSS \\2038) are supported in all mainstream browsers. Glyph shape depends on the font.
✓ Universal support
Caret Below (‸)
Encode with hex, decimal, or CSS escape — or paste ‸ in UTF-8 HTML.
100%Browser coverage
Google ChromeSupported
Yes
Microsoft EdgeSupported
Yes
Mozilla FirefoxSupported
Yes
Apple SafariSupported
Yes
OperaSupported
Yes
Internet ExplorerAll versions
Yes
U+2038 / entitiesFull support
Bottom line: Use ‸ or ‸ for the Unicode glyph, and \\2038 only inside CSS content. Prefer ^ for ASCII caret uses.
Remember
Key Takeaways
Unicode: caret below is U+2038 (decimal 8248).
HTML: use ‸ or ‸ when you need an entity.
One line:U+2038 → ‸ / ‸ / CSS \2038, or paste ‸.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use ‸ (hex), ‸ (decimal), or the CSS escape \2038 in the content property. All render ‸. You can also paste ‸ directly when your file is UTF-8.
U+2038 (hex 2038, decimal 8248). Unicode names it CARET. It belongs to the General Punctuation block and is used as a proofreading insertion mark.
No. HTML5 does not define a named entity for ‸. Use numeric references like ‸ or ‸.
‸ (U+2038) is the proofreading caret. ^ (U+005E) is the ASCII circumflex/caret key. ⁁ (U+2041) is caret insertion point — a related but different mark.
HTML entities (‸ or ‸) go in markup. The CSS escape \2038 is used in stylesheets (usually in the content property of ::before/::after). Both render ‸.
Use it for proofreading, editing annotations, and typography that needs an insertion mark under the line. Prefer ^ for exponents, regex, and keyboard caret.
🤔
Did you know?
Caret below is Unicode U+2038 (decimal 8248) — official name CARET in the General Punctuation block. HTML5 has no named entity. It is the proofreading insertion mark and is not ASCII caret (U+005E ^) or caret insertion point (U+2041 ⁁).
