SymbolHub

Therefore Symbol (∴)

The therefore symbol ∴ is Unicode U+2234, three dots in a triangle, read “therefore”. Press Copy to put it on your clipboard.

Unicode
U+2234
HTML
∴
Word
2234 Alt+X

How to type the therefore symbol (∴)

The quickest way is to press Copy above and paste. To type ∴ yourself, use the method for your device below.

Windows

  1. In Word or Outlook, type 2234 and press Alt + X. Alt + X converts the hex code before the cursor into the character, and back again.
  2. Press Win + R, type charmap and press Enter. Tick “Advanced view”, search for Therefore, then Select and Copy. Character Map is built into every version of Windows.

Mac

  1. Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, search for therefore and double-click it.
  2. With the Unicode Hex Input keyboard enabled (System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources), hold Option and type 2234.

Linux & ChromeOS

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 2234, then press Enter or Space. Works in GTK and IBus apps (GNOME, Firefox, Chrome, LibreOffice) and on ChromeOS.

iPhone & iPad

  1. Copy ∴ from this page, then go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement and add it with a shortcut such as ;ther. The shortcut then turns into the symbol as you type, in every app.

Android

  1. Copy ∴ here, then open Gboard settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary and add it with a shortcut.

Microsoft Word

  1. Type 2234, then press Alt + X.
  2. Insert → Symbol → More Symbols. Set “from” to Unicode (hex), type 2234 in “Character code” and click Insert.

Google Docs

  1. Insert → Special characters, then search for “therefore” or draw it in the box.

Excel & Google Sheets

  1. Enter =UNICHAR(8756) in a cell. It works in Excel 2013 and later and in Google Sheets.

HTML

  1. Write ∴ or ∴ in your HTML.

What does ∴ mean?

∴ is read “therefore” and introduces a conclusion: x + 2 = 5 ∴ x = 3. It has been used in mathematical writing since at least the 17th century, and the Swiss mathematician Johann Rahn’s 1659 algebra is one of its early printed appearances. Its mirror image ∵, with the point at the bottom, means “because”.

The sign is a shorthand for notes, whiteboards and step-by-step working rather than for formal papers, where journals prefer words. It is also popular in logic puzzles, philosophy notes and even in Freemasonry, where three dots after a word mark an abbreviation.

A quick way to remember the pair: ∴ “therefore” stands on two feet like a conclusion built on its premises, while ∵ “because” balances on one point.

Common uses

  • Worked solutions: 2x = 10 ∴ x = 5
  • Lecture and revision notes: “demand ↑ ∴ price ↑”
  • Logic and philosophy arguments

Therefore Symbol codes for HTML, CSS and programming

Every code below produces ∴. Use the HTML entity in web pages, the CSS escape in content, and the escape sequence in source code.

Unicode code pointU+2234
HTML entity (named)∴
HTML decimal∴
HTML hex∴
CSS contentcontent: "\2234";
JavaScript"\u2234"
Python"\u2234"
Python (by name)"\N{THEREFORE}"
Java / C#"\u2234"
LaTeX\therefore
UTF-8 bytesE2 88 B4
UTF-162234
URL encoded%E2%88%B4

∴ vs look-alike characters

These characters look similar to ∴ but have a different meaning and code. Pasting the wrong one can break search, sorting and screen readers.

CharNameWhen to use it
Because
U+2235		Because. The same three dots with the single dot at the bottom.
One Dot Over Two Dots Punctuation
U+2E2B		One dot over two dots punctuation, a historical mark, not the maths sign.
Proportion
U+2237		Proportion (four dots), used in old ratio notation a : b ∷ c : d.

Symbols similar to ∴

Click to copy, or open a symbol for its codes. See the full math symbols collection.

∴ character properties

Official Unicode name
THEREFORE
Also known as
therefore sign, three dots triangle, hence symbol
Code point
U+2234
Unicode block
Mathematical Operators (U+2200–U+22FF)
General category
Math symbol (Sm)
Added in
Unicode 1.1 (1993)
Plane
Basic Multilingual Plane (0)
Emoji
No, it is a text symbol

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between ∴ and ∵?

∴ (one dot on top) means “therefore” and comes before a conclusion. ∵ (one dot at the bottom) means “because” and comes before a reason.

How do I type the therefore symbol in Word?

Type 2234 and press Alt + X. In Word’s equation editor you can also type \therefore followed by a space.

Is there an alt code for the therefore symbol?

No. ∴ is outside the Windows-1252 and code page 437 character sets, so no Alt + number code produces it. Copy it from this page, type 2234 then Alt + X in Word, or find it in Character Map.

How do I type the therefore symbol on a Mac?

There is no single Option shortcut for ∴ on the US layout. Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, search for “therefore” and double-click it, or copy it from this page.

What is the HTML code for the therefore symbol?

Use the named entity ∴ or the numeric reference ∴ (hex ∴). All three display ∴ in every browser.

What is the Unicode for the therefore symbol?

∴ is U+2234, officially named THEREFORE, in the Mathematical Operators block. It has been part of Unicode since version 1.1 (1993).