Tilde Operator ∼

Semantic identity and intent

Characters to distinguish

• = — Equals Sign
• ≠ — Not Equal To
• < — Less Than

Use ∼ in the right format

Meaning and usage

Can indicate asymptotic equivalence, similarity, or a probability distribution.

State the intended relation because the tilde has several meanings.

Pronunciation: tilde operator

Formula examples

How to type Tilde Operator

Windows

Open Character Map and search by name or Unicode U+223C.

macOS

Open Character Viewer with Control–Command–Space and search by the symbol name.

Microsoft Word

In an equation, type \sim and press Space when Word supports the command.

iPhone and iPad

Copy and paste ∼, or use a math/LaTeX app. The standard iOS keyboard may not expose every mathematical symbol.

Android

Copy and paste ∼, or use a math keyboard or LaTeX editor. Keyboard layouts vary by device and app.

Google Docs

For plain text, paste ∼ or use Insert → Special characters. For structured math, use the equation editor and verify \sim.

Excel

Paste ∼ into a cell or use Insert → Symbol when available. Ordinary cells preserve the character but do not interpret LaTeX commands.

Common mistakes

• Do not replace Tilde Operator with an equals sign: ∼ communicates an approximation or field-specific equivalence, not exact equality.
• For plain text, copy ∼ as U+223C; for structured equations, use \sim in math mode. A look-alike glyph or image can break search, accessibility, or parsing when the intended character is Tilde Operator.

When to use ∼

• Use ∼ in plain text when a Unicode character is appropriate and the destination preserves U+223C.
• Use \sim in an equation editor when mathematical spacing or structure matters.
• Define the local meaning when Tilde Operator is used in comparison with a field-specific convention.

Look-alikes and related characters

• = — Equals Sign
• ≠ — Not Equal To
• < — Less Than

Font and compatibility notes

Glyph shape can vary by font. Verify the code point after copying, and prefer LaTeX or MathML for structured equations.

Review and source notes

Quality tier: core

Last reviewed: 2026-07-26

Review method: Checked Tilde Operator against its Unicode identity, LaTeX representation, HTML serialization, MathML token, and copy-and-paste behavior.

Verified against: Unicode Standard, Unicode mathematical notation guidance, and established LaTeX/MathML syntax.

Reference sources

• The Unicode StandardUnicode Consortium — Character identity, encoding, names, and conformance.
• Unicode Character Code ChartsUnicode Consortium — Code points and official character charts.
• Unicode Technical Report #25: Unicode Support for MathematicsUnicode Consortium — Mathematical character usage, variants, and notation support.
• LaTeX Project DocumentationThe LaTeX Project — LaTeX syntax, authoring model, and official documentation links.
• MathML CoreW3C — Semantic web mathematics elements and browser behavior.

Frequently asked questions