TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: the pound sign (#) From:Joanna Sheldon <cjs10 -at- CORNELL -dot- EDU> Date:Wed, 9 Aug 1995 14:18:51 -0400
>James> > I know "#" as the "hash" sign.
>Stui> Hi James. In North America, they call the # the "pound" sign. I
>too
>Stui> know it as an octothorp as I come from England, just as the / is an
>STui> oblique not a forward slash as they say here. :)
>I am working with a Canadian here, and he assures me that in North
>America, the "#" is known as the "hash" sign, as it is in Australia.
>This is certainly true of all computer specialists I have met. The
>Canadian, by the way, is not a computer specialist. He has a degree in
>English literature.
I knew it as the "pound" sign before I started documenting computer
hardware. Now I know it as the "hash" sign as well.