More Than Just Fonts
It is a common misconception that symbols like ℃ (Degree Celsius) or ℝ(Real Numbers) are just standard letters with a fancy font applied. In Unicode, these are actually distinct characters with unique codes.
Why use specific characters?
- Semantic Meaning: Screen readers for the visually impaired will read "℃" as "Degrees Celsius," whereas they might read a plain "C" simply as the letter C.
- Mathematical Clarity: In advanced algebra, ℝ represents the specific set of Real Numbers. Using a bold "R" might be ambiguous, but the double-struck glyph is universally recognized by mathematicians.
- Layout Stability: Symbols like the trademark (™) are designed to sit higher (superscript) naturally, ensuring your text alignment stays clean without needing HTML `<sup>` tags.
The Numero Sign (№)
The Numero sign (№) is the typographic abbreviation for the word "number," predominately used in Cyrillic usage and some European languages, whereas American English typically uses the octothorpe (#).