Why is the symbol # called the hashtag in Twitter?

The symbol known as the hashtag (#) in Twitter has a history of different names and uses in American English, including pound sign – used after a nu. TheBritannicaDictionary mobilesearch Home AsktheEditor WordoftheDay Quizzes CoreVocabulary BrowsetheDictionary × BritannicaHomepage AsktheEditor WordoftheDay Quizzes CoreVocabulary BrowsetheDictionary TheBritannicaDictionary AsktheEditor Question Whyisthesymbol#calledthehashtaginTwitter? — eliznurse,UnitedStates Answer Thesymbolknownasthehashtag(#)inTwitterhasahistoryofdifferentnamesandusesinAmericanEnglish,includingpoundsign–usedafteranumbertomean“weightinpounds,”numbersign–usedinfrontofanumbertomean“number”(asin"Pleasereviewitem#2onthelist"), crosshatch,and hashmark. Inadditiontothesymbol,thetermhashmarkcanalsorefertoasetofstripesonasoldier’ssleevethatindicateanumberofyearsofserviceinthemilitary,ortolinesonafootballfield. Thewordhashtag,usedtorefertothesymbol(#)inTwitter,isacombinationofthewordhashfromhashmarkandtheword tag,awaytomarksomethingasbelongingtoaspecificcategory.  Asmanyofyouprobablyknow,usingahashtaginTwitterhelpscategorizeyourmessageandmakesitpossibleforotherstofindyourtweetwhentheysearchformessagesonthesametopic. Ifyouincludethehashtag#snowdeninyourtweet,forexample,anyonewhosearchesfor#snowdeninTwitterwillseeyourtweet.Hashtagsmakeiteasytoquicklyfindmessagesaboutatopicthatinterestsyou.    Ihopethishelps.  Archive Selectmonth... February2022 January2022 December2021 November2021 October2021 September2021 August2021 July2021 June2021 May2021 April2021 March2021 February2021 January2021 December2020 November2020 October2020 September2020 August2020 July2020 June2020 May2020 April2020 March2020 February2020 January2020 December2019 November2019 October2019 September2019 August2019 May2019 April2019 March2019 February2019 January2019 December2018 November2018 October2018 September2018 August2018 July2018 June2018 May2018 April2018 March2018 February2018 January2018 December2017 November2017 October2017 September2017 August2017 July2017 June2017 May2017 April2017 March2017 February2017 January2017 December2016 November2016 October2016 September2016 August2016 July2016 June2016 May2016 April2016 March2016 February2016 January2016 December2015 November2015 October2015 September2015 August2015 July2015 June2015 May2015 April2015 March2015 February2015 January2015 December2014 November2014 October2014 September2014 August2014 July2014 June2014 May2014 April2014 March2014 February2014 January2014 December2013 November2013 October2013 September2013 August2013 July2013 June2013 May2013 April2013 March2013 February2013 January2013 December2012 November2012 October2012 September2012 August2012 July2012 June2012 May2012 April2012 March2012 February2012 January2012 December2011 November2011 October2011 September2011 August2011 July2011 June2011 May2011 April2011 March2011 February2011 January2011 December2010 November2010 October2010 September2010 August2010 July2010 June2010 May2010 April2010 March2010 February2010 January2010 December2009 November2009 October2009 September2009 August2009 July2009 June2009 May2009 April2009 March2009 February2009 January2009 December2008 November2008 October2008 September2008 Linktothispage: Youcanreadmorearticlesinthearchive. QUIZZES VocabularyQuiz Testyourwordpower TaketheQuiz» NameThatThing Takeourvisualquiz TestYourKnowledge» WORDOFTHEDAY incentive :somethingthatencouragesapersontodosomething LearnMore» AboutUs&LegalInfo PartnerProgram ContactUs PrivacyNotice TermsofUse PronunciationSymbols Help ©2022EncyclopædiaBritannica,Inc.