The element of sign ∈ says that something belongs to a set, as in 3 ∈ ℕ. Type 2208 then Alt+X in Word. Its shape derives from a stylised Greek epsilon, for the first letter of the Greek word meaning "is". The negation is ∉.
01 All shortcuts at a glance
| Platform | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Windows (any app) | Win+. or Win+; emoji/symbol picker, or Character Map (Win+R → charmap) |
|
| Mac | Control+Command+Space to open Character Viewer, search "Element Of" |
|
| Word / Outlook | Type 2208, then press Alt+X |
|
| Linux (IBus) | Ctrl+Shift+U, then 2208, then Enter |
|
| HTML / CSS | ∈ · \2208 (CSS) |
02 Step by step, per platform
A real, followable procedure for every platform, not a thin restatement of the shortcut.
Windows
- Open Character Map: Win+R, type charmap, press Enter.
- Search or scroll for Element Of (U+2208).
- Select it, click Copy, then paste where you need it.
Mac
- Press Control+Command+Space to open the Character Viewer.
- Type "Element Of" in the search field.
- Double-click the result to insert it.
Microsoft Word
- Type 2208.
- Press Alt+X immediately after, it converts the hex code to ∈.
03 Characters in this set
04 Troubleshooting & confusables
| Looks like it | But it's actually | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ε (U+03B5) | Greek small letter epsilon | A variable, most often a small quantity in analysis. The relation is drawn wider. |
| ∊ (U+220A) | Small element of | A size variant for use in subscripts and cramped positions. |
| ∉ (U+2209) | Not an element of | The negation, with a slash. It says the item is outside the set. |
05 FAQ
What is the Unicode code point for the element of sign?
It is U+2208, decimal 8712. There is no Windows Alt code for it.
How do I read x ∈ A?
As "x is an element of A", or more casually "x is in A". The reversed form A ∋ x says the same thing the other way round.
Where does the symbol come from?
Giuseppe Peano introduced it in 1889, based on the Greek letter epsilon for ἐστί, meaning "is". Unicode encodes the relation separately from the letter for exactly that reason.
How is it different from ⊂?
Element of relates an item to a set. Subset relates a set to a set. So 3 ∈ {1,2,3} but {3} ⊂ {1,2,3}, and swapping them is a genuine error.
How do I write "is not an element of"?
Use ∉ at U+2209, the slashed form. Typing the plain symbol with a separate slash character does not produce the same result.