The at sign (@), called et işareti in Turkish, is the special character that sits in the middle of every email address and in the usernames of many social media accounts. It is easy to type on some keyboards and surprisingly hard on others, especially when you use a Turkish layout and do not know the key combination.
In this guide we explain what the at sign is, where the name comes from, how to type it on Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, Android and iPhone, what to do when it does not appear, and how it is used in email, social media, programming and HTML.
What Is the At Sign?
The at sign is the @ symbol. It is used in email addresses to separate the user name from the domain (for example name@example.com), and on social platforms to mention or tag an account.
What Does the At Sign Mean?
Originally it was shorthand for “at” in accounting, as in “5 apples @ $2 each”. Today it mostly means “at” in the sense of “at this address” in email, or “this account” on social media.
Why Is the @ Called “Et İşareti” in Turkish?
In Turkish, the sign is commonly called the “et işareti” in everyday speech, as well as “at işareti” or just ”@”. Names for the symbol differ by language (for example “at sign” or “commercial at” in English), and the Turkish name is simply the one that became common in daily use.
How to Type the At Sign
On a Windows Turkish Q Keyboard
Press AltGr + Q together.
- The Ctrl + Alt + Q method: on Windows, AltGr is equal to Ctrl + Alt, so if your keyboard has no AltGr key, press
Ctrl + Alt + Q.
On a Windows Turkish F Keyboard
Press AltGr + F.
On a Windows English Keyboard
Press Shift + 2.
With an Alt Code
Hold Alt, type 64 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. This works on Windows keyboards that have a numeric keypad.
On a Mac
- Turkish Q Mac keyboard:
Option + Q - Turkish F Mac keyboard: the layout assigns it to its own Option combination; try
Option + Ffirst or check the Keyboard Viewer. - English Mac keyboard:
Shift + 2
| Mac layout | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Turkish Q | Option + Q |
| Turkish F | Option combination (check Keyboard Viewer) |
| English | Shift + 2 |
On Linux
On most layouts, the shortcut matches the Windows one (AltGr + Q on Turkish Q, Shift + 2 on English). You can also enter it by Unicode code: press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 0040, then press Enter (works in many GTK-based applications).
On a Chromebook
Use the shortcut for your selected layout, such as Shift + 2 on English or AltGr + Q on Turkish Q.
On an Android Phone
Open the keyboard, tap ?123 (or the symbol key), then tap @. On Samsung keyboards, the symbol key may be labeled !#1 or 123.
On an iPhone
Tap the 123 key on the keyboard to switch to numbers and symbols, and you will find @ on the first symbol page.
At Sign Shortcuts by Keyboard Type
| Keyboard / device | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Windows Turkish Q | AltGr + Q (or Ctrl + Alt + Q) |
| Windows Turkish F | AltGr + F |
| Windows English | Shift + 2 |
| Mac Turkish Q | Option + Q |
| Mac English | Shift + 2 |
| Android | ?123 → @ |
| iPhone | 123 → @ |
The Copy-and-Paste Method
If you cannot type it, copy this symbol: @, and paste it where you need it. This works anywhere text can be pasted.
How to Check the Keyboard Language on Windows
Look at the language code in the right of the taskbar (for example TUR or ENG). Press Windows + Space to switch layouts. The layout decides which shortcut works.
Keyboard Layout and Shortcuts
The same physical key produces different characters depending on the selected layout. So the shortcut depends on the layout set in the system, not on the letters printed on the keys.
How to Check the Keyboard Language on a Mac
Look at the flag or input menu in the menu bar, and open System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources to see or change the layout.
What to Do If the At Sign Does Not Appear
- Check the keyboard language. The wrong layout is the most common cause.
- Try other AltGr shortcuts to see if AltGr works at all.
- Use Ctrl + Alt instead of AltGr (on Windows).
- Open the on-screen keyboard.
- Use the Character Map (Windows) to copy the symbol.
- Reconnect the keyboard if it is external.
- Restart the computer.
- Test it in a different application to rule out an app-specific problem.
Why the At Sign May Not Work
- Wrong layout selected (for example English instead of Turkish Q)
- Missing or faulty AltGr key
- Keyboard remapping software or a faulty driver
- Stuck keys or a damaged keyboard
- Remote or virtual desktop sessions that send keys differently
Why Does It Not Work in Remote Desktop?
Remote desktop software can map keys differently from your local machine. Set the same layout on both sides, or use the on-screen keyboard or copy-paste.
How the At Sign Is Used in Email Addresses
An email address has a local part, the @ sign and a domain: local@domain.com. It must appear exactly once, with no spaces. For a business email setup, see creating a corporate email account with Yandex.
How the At Sign Is Used on Social Media
Typing @ followed by a username mentions or tags that account, notifying them and linking to their profile.
What Is the Difference Between @ and the Hashtag?
@ points to a person or account. # points to a topic or keyword. Mixing them up leads to tags that go nowhere.
What the @ Does on Instagram
It lets you mention accounts in captions, comments, stories and your bio; see how to write an Instagram bio, Instagram professional account, Instagram story strategies and link in bio. For the term itself, see what is a social platform.
What the @ Does on WhatsApp
In groups, @ followed by a contact’s name mentions them. For business use, see the WhatsApp Business account. Messaging privacy is also related to end-to-end encryption.
How the @ Works on Threads and X
Mentions work the same way: @username notifies the account. See what is Instagram Threads and how to open an account.
What the At Sign Does in Programming
In programming languages, @ has different roles: decorators in Python, annotations in Java, directives in CSS (such as @media) and many template systems. It is also used with object-oriented programming annotations in several languages.
How to Write the At Sign in HTML
You can write it directly, or use the character entity @ or the numeric code @. For email links, a hyperlink can use mailto:name@example.com.
Technical Equivalents of the @ Sign
| Representation | Value |
|---|---|
| Character | @ |
| Unicode | U+0040 |
| ASCII / Alt code | 64 |
| HTML entity | @ |
| HTML numeric | @ |
If you save addresses in a plain TXT file, the symbol is stored as normal text.
Mistakes Made When Using the At Sign
- Adding spaces in an email address
- Using more than one
@in an address - Confusing
@with# - Not checking the keyboard language
- Pressing keys by their printed position instead of the layout’s shortcut
- Treating an email address as a social media username
Comparison of At Sign Uses
| Context | Use |
|---|---|
| Separates user name and domain | |
| Social media | Mentions or tags an account |
| WhatsApp groups | Mentions a participant |
| Programming | Decorators, annotations, directives |
| HTML | @ or @ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the at sign?
The @ symbol, widely used in email addresses and social media usernames.
How do you type the at sign?
On a Windows Turkish Q keyboard press AltGr + Q; on an English keyboard press Shift + 2.
How do you type @ on a Turkish Q keyboard?
Press AltGr + Q together.
How do you type @ on a Turkish F keyboard?
Use the AltGr + F combination.
How do you type the at sign on an English keyboard?
Press Shift + 2 together.
How do you type @ on a Mac?
On a Turkish Q Mac keyboard use Option + Q; on an English Mac keyboard use Shift + 2.
How do you type the at sign on a laptop?
If the laptop uses a Turkish Q keyboard press AltGr + Q. If the layout is English try Shift + 2.
How do you type @ without an AltGr key?
On Windows use Ctrl + Alt + Q. You can also copy the symbol and paste it.
How do you type @ with an Alt code?
Hold Alt, type 64 on the numeric keypad and release Alt.
How do you type the at sign on a phone?
On Android tap ?123, on iPhone tap 123, then choose the @ symbol on the symbol screen.
Where is the @ on an iPhone?
On the symbol screen that opens when you tap the 123 key.
How do you type @ on a Samsung phone?
Tap !#1, 123 or the symbol key on the Samsung keyboard, then select @.
What if the at sign does not appear?
Check the keyboard language, try AltGr + Q on Turkish Q or Shift + 2 on English, and use the on-screen keyboard if needed.
Why does AltGr + Q not produce @?
The system may have an English or Turkish F layout selected. Switch to the right layout.
