In today's world, Ditto mark has become a topic of constant interest and debate. Since its inception, Ditto mark has aroused the curiosity and attention of experts and hobbyists alike. Its impact on society and in different areas of study has made it a fundamental element to consider in any analysis or discussion. In this article, we will explore the various aspects related to Ditto mark, from its history and origin to its influence today. In addition, we will examine the different points of view and opinions surrounding Ditto mark, with the aim of offering a complete and enriching vision of this fascinating topic.
'' | |
---|---|
Ditto mark | |
In Unicode | U+0027 ' APOSTROPHE (×2) U+0022 " QUOTATION MARK U+201D ” RIGHT DOUBLE QUOTATION MARK U+3003 〃 DITTO MARK (CJK character) |
Different from | |
Different from | U+2033 ″ DOUBLE PRIME |
The ditto mark is a shorthand sign, used mostly in hand-written text, indicating that the words or figures above it are to be repeated.
The mark is made using "a pair of apostrophes"; "a pair of marks " used underneath a word"; the symbol " (quotation mark); or the symbol ” (right double quotation mark).
In the following example, the second line reads "Blue pens, box of twenty".
Black pens, box of twenty ... $2.10 Blue " " " " ... $2.35
Early evidence of ditto marks can be seen on a cuneiform tablet of the Neo-Assyrian period (934–608 BCE) where two vertical marks are used in a table of synonyms to repeat text.
In China the corresponding historical mark was two horizontal lines 𠄠 (Unicode U+16FE3 𖿣 OLD CHINESE ITERATION MARK), which is also the ancient ideograph of "two", similar to the modern ideograph 二. It is found in bronze script from the Zhou Dynasty, as in the example at right (circa 825 BCE). In seal script form this became 〻, and is now written as 々; see iteration mark.
The word ditto comes from the Tuscan language, where it is the past participle of the verb dire (to say), with the meaning of "said", as in the locution "the said story". The first recorded use of ditto with this meaning in English occurs in 1625.
In English, the abbreviation "do.", usually italicised, has sometimes been used instead of ditto marks.
For Chinese, Japanese and Korean, there is the specific Unicode character U+3003 〃 DITTO MARK in the range CJK Symbols and Punctuation. This facilitates the setting of both marks on a single horizontal line in Asian vertical text.
Other languages may use equivalent symbols. For example, in Norwegian handwriting, a version using horizontal lines to indicate the span of the cell in a table where an entry repeats is sometimes seen (––〃––). In French, it is called a guillemet itératif, but the actual symbol used may vary: » is used in Quebec, while in France ― is preferred.
A symbol formed from two apostrophes (〃) representing 'ditto'.
two small marks (") placed under something to indicate that it is to be repeated
A pair of marks " used underneath a word to save space and show that the word is repeated where the marks are.