Morse Code Special Characters
Special characters in Morse code. The at sign and dollar sign are the main standardised symbols. Click any character to hear it.
The at sign in modern Morse
The at sign (.--.-.), called commat, was formalised for use in Morse relatively recently as email became part of digital communication. It is useful when sending email addresses, web addresses, or identifying callsigns with email. Many modern Morse operators use it when needed rather than spelling out the words. The pattern combines the codes for A and C, making it relatively easy to remember once learned.
Dollar sign
The dollar sign (...-..-) has a standardised Morse pattern but is used less frequently than punctuation or the at sign. Financial information sent via Morse is rare in modern practice, but the code exists for completeness in the standard. Ham radio operators and maritime communications may occasionally send financial data, though digital methods have largely replaced Morse for this purpose. The dollar sign code is a longer pattern suitable for its infrequent use.
Other special characters
Most other text characters (brackets, braces, percent signs, ampersand, etc.) do not have official Morse codes beyond what is already standardised. When these are needed, operators spell them out instead: PERCENT, LEFT BRACKET, HASH, AMPERSAND. This practice keeps the message clear and avoids confusion from made-up codes. The decision to standardise only common characters reflects historical telegraph use, where financial and technical symbols were rare in actual messages.
Frequently asked questions
What Morse codes exist for special characters?
The at sign (@) and dollar sign ($) are the most standardised special characters in Morse. Both use six-element patterns. The at sign, also called commat, is increasingly used in email addresses sent via Morse.
Is the at sign (@) used in Morse?
Yes. The at sign (<code>.--.-.</code>) is officially part of the modern Morse standard. It is useful for sending email addresses and web information. Some operators use it more frequently now than in the traditional telegraph era.
Are other special characters standardised?
Most text-based special characters do not have official Morse codes. When special characters are needed, operators either spell them out (AT SIGN, DOLLAR) or use nearby punctuation. The @ and $ signs are the main exceptions with their own codes.
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