Definition

1. Noun:
   • A proofreading mark: A small, wedge-shaped symbol (‸ or ^) used in editing and proofreading to indicate the precise location in a text where an insertion, such as a letter, word, or punctuation mark, should be made.

Usage

The caret is used primarily in handwritten or printed text edits. It is placed directly at the point in the line where something is missing. The text to be added is typically written in the margin or above the line, often with a line connecting it to the caret.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The editor placed a caret between the words to show where the missing verb should go.
  • In the sentence "The cat sat the mat," you would put a caret after "sat" and write "on" above it.

Advanced Usage

• Digital Context: While originating in proofreading on paper, the term caret is also used in computing. It can refer to the on-screen text cursor (the blinking vertical line), which indicates the insertion point for typed characters. However, in strict editorial terminology, the caret remains the specific proofreading symbol.
  • In some word processors, the caret symbol is used in "find" commands to represent the start of a line.

Variants and Related Words

• Caret Symbol (n): Another term for the caret mark itself.
• Caret Notation (n): A system, especially in computing, that uses the caret to represent control characters (e.g., ^C for Ctrl+C).

Synonyms

• Insertion mark: A more descriptive term for the caret.
• Proofreader's mark: A general term for symbols like the caret used in editing.

Related Phrases

• Caret and Stick: A historical printing term referring to a symbol used to mark insertions.
• Caret Browsing: A feature in web browsers that allows navigation of a webpage using a moveable cursor (caret) instead of just the mouse.

Noun

1. a mark used by an author or editor to indicate where something is to be inserted into a text