# Is ~ (tilde) widely used and understood **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 20, 2026, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449 "2026-08-20T12:12:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449/21 "2026-08-20T17:44:55Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Behold, the triple tilde ≋! You can see where this is going, right? Razors started out with a single-edged blade. Then Trac 2 came along. I’ve no idea how many there are now, but it’s more than 3 I betcha. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449/22 "2026-08-20T17:49:42Z")
Likewise. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449/23 "2026-08-20T18:01:33Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > > [@muldoonthief](#): > > > > ~ is a shortcut to your home path in Unix & Linux > > Really people, get with it, this is the tilde’s primary use. Yeah, that’s what I really know it for. I’d get the usage in the OP and the usage in Spanish, but the above is what sprung to mind when I read the title. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449/24 "2026-08-20T18:08:39Z")
I use it as approximately and I think that it’s very well understood to mean that although I could be wrong. I wouldn’t use it for something critical but then something critical wouldn’t use an approximate time or quantity. I also may use it for manaña or whatever on occasion but that’s not really what’s being asked here. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449/25 "2026-08-20T18:13:16Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#): > > it’s more than 3 I betcha. How about six? > **[The Men's Signature 6 Blade Razor](https://us.dollarshaveclub.com/products/the-signature-6-blade-razor?variant=42488397037616&country=US¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=US%20%7C%20BOF%20%7C%20PMax%20%7C%20OD%20+%20Sub%20%7C%20Brand%20%7C%20Evergreen&utm_content=-%7Badgroupname%7D&utm_term=&utm_id=22455111743&nbt=nb%3Aadwords%3Ax%3A22455111743%3A%3A&nb_adtype=pla&nb_kwd=&nb_ti=&nb_mi=100003297&nb_pc=online&nb_pi=shopify_US_7692768608304_42488397037616&nb_ppi=&nb_placement=&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=&nb_fii=&nb_ap=&nb_mt=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22610425108&gclid=CjwKCAjwy5rUBhB5EiwAIoAtCvQbwI67_dkbQyCK_d4Cgs2kPyYNCZCPFftR8CEMfs5y0sL9JC6NnBoCwYQQAvD_BwE)** > > Blade for precision. Our Signature 6 Blade was engineered with six stainless steel blades to provide you with our closest, most comfortable shave yet. Perfect for stubble or short hair. Daily or frequent shavers Precision trimmer for precise... ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449/26 "2026-08-20T18:15:02Z")
Blade Inflation! Soon enough, there’ll be Tildes all over the place. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449/27 "2026-08-20T18:27:49Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > If you mean its informal common usage as “approximate” then yes, I think most people get it. The proper symbol is the double tilde ≈. > > If you mean its formal usage in mathematics and programming, probably less so. In my general experience it tends to be the opposite. I see the tilde or double tilde more often in mathematics, such as when a simplified formula instead of a very complicated one is used for convenience, and the answer expressed as something like ~x. Whereas in general discourse I’ll more typically see things like “approximately”, “approx.”, “roughly”, “around”, or, for dates “c.” for “circa”. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449/28 "2026-08-20T18:40:18Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > ~ is a shortcut to your home path in Unix & Linux operating systems. I thought everyone knew that. I knew linux was it’s own world. It’s starting to look like an echo chamber. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449/29 "2026-08-20T18:52:08Z")
I’ve only ever used the double version - to mean approximately. (I’m a 73 year old native Englishman who did mathematics at University.) ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449/30 "2026-08-20T19:35:58Z")
I would not assume that everyone understands tilde to mean approximately. I would not be surprised if someone misinterpreted it to be a minus sign, which could be a catastrophic error in some situations. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449/31 "2026-08-20T19:46:38Z")
Holy pinata, I had no idea it was used as anything other than an accent in Spanish. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449/32 "2026-08-20T19:49:43Z")
A 3rd grader once asked me, “What’s that squiggly thing?!” LOL ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449/33 "2026-08-20T20:04:51Z")
🎶 My tilde she take me money and run Venezuela 🎶 ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449/34 "2026-08-20T20:12:19Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Do you think it’s widely used enough that most people understand it? Realistically, in the context you’re asking about, “7am” (without the tilde) already means “about 7am” and “7pm” already means “about 7pm.” No one is going to ensure the pill goes into Maxo’s mouth at exactly 7:00:00. If you’re worried about it, I’d say something like “around” or “about.” Or you could say something like “7am plus or minus 15 minutes.” That way you can be sure your intended meaning will be understood. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449/35 "2026-08-20T20:19:57Z")
> [@Ancient\_Nerd](#): > > I knew linux was it’s own world. It’s starting to look like an echo chamber. \ First time I’ve seen the “its”/“it’s” confusion marvelously contradicted in just two consecutive sentences! \ ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449/36 "2026-08-20T22:40:37Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > It’s clear to me; but only because I learned it years ago. Honestly kids have seen it from very early on. Middle School routinely and apparently even third grade! In the context of > [@Hampshire](#): > > give Maxo his medication 1 dose ~ 7am and one dose ~ 7pm what meaning other than “around” is there possibly to misconstrue? The logic operator use of the tilde as “not”?? People are not always smart but we don’t have to assume most are complete idiots. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449/37 "2026-08-20T22:46:51Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > If you mean its informal common usage as “approximate” then yes, I think most people get it. The proper symbol is the double tilde ≈. The “double tilde” is a squiggly equals sign, and it means “is approximately equal to.” That’s different from what the OP is talking about: a single tilde in front of a number to mean “approximately.” At least, that’s how I’ve always seen them used. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449/38 "2026-08-20T23:41:14Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Even newspapers that follow the AP stylebook won’t use it. That’s because it’s informal usage, not because it is unknown or too high level. Wikipedia even subheads the section “common use in English” under the Usage heading. > ### Common use in English > > The English language does not use the tilde as a diacritic, though it is used in some loanwords. The standalone form of the symbol is used more widely. Informally, it means “approximately”, “about”, or “around”, such as “~30 minutes before”. There are certainly people (e.g., @WOOKINPANUBv.2) who aren’t familiar with it. But that’s going to be a small minority. In the U.S. at least, it is generally well understood. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449/39 "2026-08-21T00:24:18Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > If you mean its formal usage in mathematics and programming, probably less so. Depends on which formal usage in mathematics and programming you mean. I’ve seen it used in mathematics to mean something like “approximately” (sometimes in a rigorously-defined way), and I’ve also seen it used to mean “not”, and there are probably other uses. And of course, there’s even more variety in programming, since different languages use symbols differently, and there are eleventy billion different programming languages. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449/40 "2026-08-21T00:24:25Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > I certainly wouldn’t expect a dog-sitter or a home attendant to understand it. I know what a tilde means. But I don’t know what a home attendant is. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tilde-widely-used-and-understood/1032449.md?page=3)