How do you pronounce and hand-write the symbol §?

Question

How do you pronounce and write by hand the symbol §, which is used extensively in legal writing?

And what do you call the symbol? For example, "#" is called the number symbol or hash. "&" is called "ampersand." Should I call it "the section symbol"?

Answer 1

It stands for section. As in "section 8 article b" or whatever.

Answer 2

It's pronounced "section" and usually referred to as "the section sign."

I've also seen it called a "silcrow," which is a neologism derived from its similarities to the pilcrow, and which I prefer myself.

Answer 3

As far as the name of the symbol goes, Wikipedia uses section sign for its article on the symbol, and also notes that the terms section mark, section symbol, silcrow, double-S, and paragraph mark can be used. Note, however, that the last two could be taken to mean other symbols (ß and ¶, respectively) depending on the context; the first three are (IMHO) less ambiguous.

As far as how to handwrite it, I usually do it by handwriting two capital S's, vertically displaced from each other.

Answer 4

Besides "section" in the common law, it can have different meanings in other legal systems.

For example, in Germany, § marks a "Paragraf".

Answer 5

§ stands for 'section'. You can type it on your QWERTY keyboard by holding down the 'Alt' key and typing '21'.