At Sign in Writing
The @ symbol has legitimate literal and technical functions, but using it as casual shorthand for the word “at” can reduce clarity and accessibility. Preserve exact identifiers and official strings rather than rewriting them.
Use the at sign (@) when it is part of an address, handle, identifier, official name, or required technical syntax. In ordinary prose, spell out “at” unless a specific interface, brand, or house style requires the symbol.
Key details
Important caveats
Boundary
Do not alter email addresses, social handles, code, official names, or other strings where @ is data rather than prose punctuation.
Further guidance
Accessibility
Avoid decorative symbol substitution when the audience may benefit from ordinary words and predictable reading order.
Decision Path
If @ is part of a literal identifier or required syntax, keep it. If it merely substitutes for the word “at” in prose, prefer the word unless local style says otherwise.
Worked Example
Write “Meet at 4 pm” in ordinary prose, but preserve “editor@example.org” exactly because the symbol is part of the address.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Style guide: formatting (opens in a new tab)Government Commercial Agency · Government style guidance limits @ to contexts such as email addresses rather than using it as informal shorthand for “at” in ordinary prose.
- Symbols and special characters (opens in a new tab)Office for National Statistics · Public-sector content guidance treats symbols and special characters as context- and accessibility-sensitive rather than generic word replacements.