Hyphen-Minus -

- (U+2D) is a standard Unicode character that you can copy and paste anywhere text is accepted. This page provides a concise reference with safe tips, internal links, and practical guidance so you can use it reliably across apps and platforms.

What it is and where it’s used: Hyphen-Minus is part of the Symbols family (block: Basic Latin). If you need styled or decorative alternatives, try our Fancy Text tool to generate compatible text that works in most modern interfaces.

History & usage: History & usage: The hyphen-minus is a punctuation mark used in text to structure content and to convey tone. It appears in many writing styles and its role changes with style and locale. The symbol also functions as a common math symbol, indicating operations or comparisons in formulas and in user interfaces. This dual use mirrors how writers and designers rely on a single glyph to separate words or ideas and to show a minus sign or a binary operation. In plain text, the same character helps join compounds and ranges, while in math contexts it signals subtraction or a relation between values. The character information places it in the Basic Latin block and marks it as Common script, with the codepoint hex 2D and the Unicode name U+2D. Its simple form keeps it portable across fonts and systems, supporting consistent reading and quick recognition. Across different locales, writers may prefer using this glyph in tight spaces or for stylistic reasons, affecting spacing and readability. In short, the hyphen-minus blends punctuation and math, shaping how content reads and feels in diverse settings.

Copy and input: the quickest method is to copy the character here. You can also insert it by its codepoint U+2D in many development tools or editors. Some operating systems provide a character viewer or input palette that lets you search by name or code and insert the glyph into documents.

Display and fallback: if you see an empty box (tofu) or a placeholder rectangle, the active font might not include this codepoint. Switching to a font with broader Unicode coverage or using a fallback font usually fixes the issue. On the web, ensure the page’s font stack includes a general‑purpose fallback.

Related references: browse the Categories for similar characters. When choosing a symbol, prefer the official codepoint for semantic clarity and better compatibility with search, copy, and accessibility tooling.

See our category page for related symbols.