There is no ass to Rick — and four other symbols you mispronounce

As an interpreter, I go to many places where people call typographical symbols by the wrong names. It irks me, but I can’t say anything about it while I’m interpreting, so please hear me now as I correct some common errors.

@

This is an at sign, a.k.a. at symbol or simply at when spoken in an email address. It is not an ampersand.

&

This is an ampersand.

/

This is a slash. It is not a backslash.

\

This is a backslash.

*

This is an asterisk. If you don’t pronounce the s before the k, you risk offending Rick.

This is Rick. Unfortunately for him, there is no asterick.