Combining cross above (U+033D), also called combining X above, is a combining mark in the Combining Diacritical Marks block. It does not stand alone like a normal letter — it stacks an X-shaped mark above the character that comes before it. Example: a + ̽ renders as a̽.
Remember
Character combining cross above / X above (after a base)
Unicode U+033D
Hex entity ̽
Decimal ̽
CSS escape \033D
Named entity (none for U+033D)
Example a̽ → a̽
Not the same x U+0078 · below U+0353
Prefer a precomposed character when one exists for the combination you need. Use U+033D when composing marks dynamically, for NFD text, or bases without a precomposed form.
Cross above using Hex Code: a̽
Cross above using HTML Code: a̽
Cross above using CSS Entity: a̽
Typed directly: a̽
How It Works
1. Hex: write the base letter, then ̽ → a̽ becomes a̽.
2. Decimal: same mark as 829 → a̽. Same result as hex.
3. CSS: put base + escape in one string: content: "a\033D". #point::after appends that sequence after the paragraph text.
4. Typed: in UTF-8 you can type a then the combining cross above. Order must stay base first, mark second.
Pitfalls & Tips
Common mistakes when working with combining cross above.
Order
Base letter first
Write a̽, never put U+033D before the letter you want to accent.
Named?
No named entity for U+033D
Use numeric forms. Typing x alone is a different character (U+0078).
Above vs below
Not cross below
U+033D is above. U+0353 is combining X below. Pick the position you need.
CSS vs HTML
Do not mix escapes
\033D belongs in CSS strings. ̽ / ̽ belong in HTML.
Fonts
Combining support varies
Some fonts stack poorly. If layout looks wrong, try a font with strong Combining Diacritical Marks coverage.
Semicolon
End references
Always finish with ; — write ̽, not ̽.
Compatibility
Browser Support
Combining cross above (U+033D) and its numeric entity forms (̽, ̽, CSS \\033D) are supported in all mainstream browsers. Stacking quality depends on font support for combining marks.
✓ Universal support
Cross Above (U+033D)
Encode with hex, decimal, or CSS escape after a base letter — same combining mark everywhere encoding is supported.
100%Browser coverage
Google ChromeSupported
Yes
Microsoft EdgeSupported
Yes
Mozilla FirefoxSupported
Yes
Apple SafariSupported
Yes
OperaSupported
Yes
Internet ExplorerAll versions
Yes
U+033D / entitiesFull support
Bottom line: Prefer a precomposed character when you can. Use ̽ or ̽ after a base letter when you need the combining mark, and \\033D only inside CSS content strings.
Remember
Key Takeaways
Unicode: combining cross above is U+033D (decimal 829).
HTML: base first, then ̽ or ̽ (e.g. a̽).
CSS: use "a\033D" (or another base) inside content.
Watch out: U+033D ≠ x ≠ U+0353 (combining above ≠ letter ≠ below).
One line:U+033D → after a base letter as ̽ / ̽ / CSS \033D.
Frequently Asked Questions
Place ̽ (hex) or ̽ (decimal) immediately after a base letter — for example a̽. In CSS, use content: "a\033D". There is no named HTML entity for U+033D.
U+033D (hex 033D, decimal 829). It belongs to the Combining Diacritical Marks block and stacks an X-shaped mark above the preceding base character.
No. Use numeric references like ̽ or ̽. Do not confuse it with the letter x (U+0078).
Use it in linguistic, phonetic, or transliteration text that needs an X-shaped mark above a letter. Prefer a precomposed character when one exists for the combination you need.
HTML entities (̽ or ̽) go in markup after the base letter. The CSS escape \033D goes in stylesheet strings (usually content on ::before/::after), typically as "a\033D".
U+033D is a combining mark above the base. x (U+0078) is a spacing letter. U+0353 is combining X below — under the letter instead of above.
🤔
Did you know?
Combining cross above (combining X above) is Unicode U+033D (decimal 829). It is a combining mark — place it after a base letter (e.g. a̽ → a̽). HTML5 has no named entity. It is not the letter x (U+0078) and not cross below (U+0353).
