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.
Daniel Greene 