Tilde Gone
Would I miss the tilde if it vanished tomorrow? Would I go hunting for the ALT code, or quietly get on with my life? I've started wondering what these symbols are actually for.
by Michael Dargie · September 8, 2026 · 144 words · 1 min read
I type a lot during the course of my day, and I've come to realize I need different characters above the numbers on my keyboard. Not all of them, just some of them. Would I miss the tilde ~ if it weren't readily available? Would I go looking for it? Would I learn the ALT + CODE or the Mac shortcut?
What on earth are these things for? Has it always been this way, or did these symbols start out as something completely different? And do I need them? Like, really need them?
I can't answer all of that in one article, but I can use it as the starting place for a series.
Stay tuned as we explore what these characters are, where they came from, and how we use them today. I can't wait to share everything I've been learning with you.
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