− vs -: What's the Difference?
Clarifying mathematical notation across our complete math symbols knowledge repository. Precision mathematical typography vs. keyboard hyphen punctuation.
🎯 The Crucial Difference
The true minus sign (−, U+2212) has the exact same width and horizontal alignment as the plus sign (+), creating visually balanced equations. The keyboard hyphen (-, U+002D) is short, lower, and designed for word hyphenation.
Detailed Comparison Table
| Feature / Property | − (True Mathematical Minus) | - (ASCII Hyphen-Minus) |
|---|---|---|
| Character Width | Same width as + sign | Significantly shorter |
| Vertical Position | Vertically centered with + and = | Lower, suited for lowercase letters |
| Visual Balance | 5 − 3 = 2 (balanced) | 5 - 3 = 2 (cramped) |
| Unicode Codepoint | U+2212 | U+002D |
When to Use − (True Mathematical Minus)
x = −5a − b = c−273.15 °C
When to Use - (ASCII Hyphen-Minus)
state-of-the-artuser-friendlyhyphenated-words
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Copying hyphen (-) from keyboards into professional diagrams and papers where it looks disjointed compared to + and =.
− vs - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the typographical difference between a minus (−) and hyphen (-)?
The true minus sign (−, U+2212) has the exact same width and vertical alignment as the plus sign (+), giving equations visual balance. The ASCII hyphen (-, U+002D) is shorter, thinner, and sits lower to match lowercase letters.
How do I type a true minus sign (−) in Microsoft Word and LaTeX?
In LaTeX math mode, typing '-' inside $...$ automatically typesets the true mathematical minus. In Word equation mode (Alt+=), typing '-' also formats as a true minus.