HTML Entity for Dotted Cross (⁜)

What You'll Learn
How to display the Dotted Cross symbol (⁜) in HTML using hexadecimal, decimal, and CSS entity methods. This character is U+205C (DOTTED CROSS) in the General Punctuation block (U+2000–U+206F)—historically used in manuscript margins as an annotation or highlighting mark (obelism).
There is no named HTML entity for U+205C. Use ⁜, ⁜, or \205C in CSS content. Do not confuse with mathematical cross symbols or the dot plus operator (∔).
⚡ Quick Reference — Dotted Cross
U+205CGeneral Punctuation block
⁜Hexadecimal reference
⁜Decimal reference
—Not available for U+205C
Name Value
──────────── ──────────
Unicode U+205C
Hex code ⁜
HTML code ⁜
Named entity —
CSS code \205CComplete HTML Example
This example demonstrates the Dotted Cross symbol (⁜) using hexadecimal code, decimal HTML code, and a CSS content escape. There is no named HTML entity:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
#point:after{
content: "\205C";
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>Dotted Cross using Hexadecimal: ⁜</p>
<p>Dotted Cross using HTML Code: ⁜</p>
<p id="point">Dotted Cross using CSS Entity: </p>
</body>
</html>🌐 Browser Support
U+205C is supported in modern browsers; use a font with General Punctuation coverage for consistent display:
👀 Live Preview
See the Dotted Cross symbol (⁜) in editorial and decorative contexts:
🧠 How It Works
Hexadecimal Code
⁜ uses the Unicode hexadecimal value 205C to display the Dotted Cross symbol.
Decimal HTML Code
⁜ uses the decimal Unicode value 8284 to display the same character.
CSS Entity
\205C is used in CSS stylesheets, particularly in the content property of ::before or ::after.
Same visual result
All three methods produce: ⁜. Unicode U+205C is in General Punctuation (U+2000–U+206F). No named HTML entity exists.
Use Cases
The Dotted Cross symbol (⁜) is commonly used in:
Digital editions and scholarly content mimicking manuscript annotations and obelism.
Dividers, icons, and branding that use ⁜ for visual interest.
Publishing and typography projects with General Punctuation marks.
Articles about obelism, manuscript symbols, and punctuation history.
Web content that must display the ⁜ character correctly.
Unicode and HTML entity tables for General Punctuation.
💡 Best Practices
Do
- Use
⁜or⁜for the ⁜ character - Choose fonts that support General Punctuation (U+2000–U+206F)
- Use
\205Conly inside CSScontent - Provide context (legend or caption) when ⁜ is meaningful, not decorative
- Keep hex or decimal style consistent across the document
Don’t
- Assume a named entity exists for U+205C—it does not
- Confuse ⁜ with dot plus (∔) or religious cross symbols
- Rely on fonts that omit General Punctuation (glyph may show as a box)
- Put CSS escape
\205Cin HTML text nodes - Use decorative ⁜ without
aria-hiddenwhen it adds no meaning for assistive tech
Key Takeaways
No named entity—use numeric references
⁜ ⁜For CSS stylesheets, use the escape in the content property
\205CUnicode U+205C DOTTED CROSS
Obelism / manuscript annotation mark in General Punctuation
Three methods, one glyph — widely supported in modern browsers
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
⁜ (hex), ⁜ (decimal), or \205C in CSS content. There is no named HTML entity. All three methods render ⁜.U+205C (DOTTED CROSS). General Punctuation block (U+2000–U+206F). Hex 205C, decimal 8284. Historically used as an annotation or obelism mark.⁜ or ⁜) go in markup. The CSS escape \205C is used in stylesheets, typically in the content property of pseudo-elements. Both render ⁜.Explore More HTML Entities!
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