The pilcrow, a backward P with two vertical lines, is used in publishing to mark new paragraphs and separate text blocks. It was once used to identify new thoughts and has specialized uses in legal and academic writing. It is rarely used in finished text and is more commonly used in editing. Some religions use it to mark instructions for worshipers.
The pilcrow is a symbol much like a capital P facing backwards. In publishing and editing, it is most often used to mark the start of a new paragraph or identify where a single block of text should be broken into multiple paragraphs. Pilcrows rarely appear in finished texts, but before the modern convention of paragraph breaks, the pilcrow was used to mark the beginning of a new thought. It also has other specialized functions, such as its use as a footnote or reference marker, especially in legal and academic documents.
A pilcrow is made by making a backward P with two close vertical parallel lines, an elevated C intersecting with two vertical lines. The first form of the symbol is understood as a letter C, an abbreviation of the Latin word capitulum, which means “chapter”. Initially, the double slash was used to denote the scribe’s notes.
This shape is why this symbol is also called blind P. It is often referred to by its Latin name alinea, which translates as “out of line.” Other common names for the pilcrow such as paraph or paragraph mark derive from the function of the pilcrow, rather than its appearance.
While the pilcrow was once used to identify new thoughts in finished texts, in modern writing it is more often used in the editing process. Editors and proofreaders use this symbol to identify where paragraph breaks should occur. Flatbreads are especially common when printed copies are edited and annotations are made by hand.
In print, indentation is most commonly used to identify paragraph breaks. Online text tends to be less dense and often a blank line is inserted between paragraphs as an easy-to-read alternative. The use of pilcrows to identify paragraph breaks in finished text is very rare.
In addition to its use for identifying and separating paragraphs, pilcrows have other specialized uses as well. In legal writing, for example, it is used to mark references. Academics sometimes use the symbol to identify specific paragraphs in a text, especially when page numbers are impractical, such as in an online text. Bloggers can also use the branding to make permanent links to previous writings.
Some religions make use of this symbol. Anglican and Episcopal churches, in particular, use pylons to identify directions for congregation. Because worshipers follow the order of service, pilcrows are sometimes used to mark instructions to sit, stand, and kneel.
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