Symbols

• Commonly called the “and symbol,” use the ampersand only when the ampersand is part of a formal business name or – in rare circumstances – when space is limited. (Note to web developers: Double-check these items before finalizing a web page. Some symbols need special coding by a web developer in order to appear correctly on the website.)
  • Example:
    • Proctor & Gamble
    • AT&T

• Use the asterisk to call out a footnote. (Note to web developers: Double-check these items before finalizing a web page. Some symbols need special coding by a web developer in order to appear correctly on the website.)

  • Example:

    Registered Permanent Vote-By-Mail Statistics 1992 to 2009*

    *Please note these numbers were provided by the individual county elections offices. Because not all counties provided information, no complete statewide data is available.

• The at symbol is a key element of every email address. Do not use it for any other reason. (Note to web developers: Double-check these items before finalizing a web page. Some symbols need special coding by a web developer in order to appear correctly on the website.)
  • Example:
    • Secretary.Bowen@sos.ca.gov

• Use the percent symbol to indicate a percentage (that the preceding number is divided by one hundred). Use the percent symbol only in tables and other places where space is limited. In running text, titles and headlines, always spell out the word. (Note to web developers: Double-check these items before finalizing a web page. Some symbols need special coding by a web developer in order to appear correctly on the website.)

  • Example (table, title):

    Political Party	Number of Registered	Percent of Total
    AIP	375,842	2.18%
    Democratic	7,670,345	44.55%
    Green	114,637	0.67%

• Example (running text):
  • Total turnout for the Statewide Special Election was 28.4 percent of registered voters.

• Avoid using the statutory section symbol. Instead, spell out the word section using a lower case s when preceded by the name of the code. Only capitalize section when it is not preceded by the name of the code.
  • Example:
    • The timeframe is detailed in California Elections Code section 9030.
    • IRS refers to certain tax-exempt charitable groups as “Section 501(c)(3) organizations.”

• Use the tilde to indicate an approximate value or size. (Note to web developers: Double-check these items before finalizing a web page. Some symbols need special coding by a web developer in order to appear correctly on the website.)
  • Example:
    • (pdf ~78KB)

For use of the tilde to indicate pronunciation, see Punctuation.

• Use the vertical or pipe bar symbol only as a tool for spacing, such as separating choices in a menu. (Note to web developers: Double-check these items before finalizing a web page. Some symbols need special coding by a web developer in order to appear correctly on the website.)
  • Examples:
    • Poll Worker Training Guidelines 2006 (PDF | Word)
    • Top | Qualified for 2010 Primary | Pending Raw | Pending Sigs | Failed

• A copyright symbol or copyright notice is an identifier placed on copies of a work to inform the world of ownership. Place the copyright notice in a conspicuous and consistent spot – typically at the bottom of a web page. (Note to web developers: Double-check these items before finalizing a web page. Some symbols need special coding by a web developer in order to appear correctly on the website.)

  A copyright notice must contain the following three elements:

  • The copyright symbol © (the letter C in a circle) or the word "Copyright."
  • The year of first publication of the work. In the case of compilations or derivative works incorporating previously published material, the year of first publication of the compilation or derivative work is sufficient.
  • The name of the owner of the copyright.
    • Examples:
      • Copyright 2009 California Secretary of State © 2009 California Secretary of State