X mark


An X mark is either used to indicate the concept of negation, or indicate affirmation. When used to mean "no," its opposite is often considered to be the O mark used in Japan and Korea or the check mark used in the West. When used to mean "yes," it is often completely interchangeable with a check mark. In Japanese, the X mark is called "batsu" and can be expressed by someone by crossing their arms.
It is also used as a replacement for a signature for a person who is blind or illiterate and thus cannot write their name. Typically, the writing of an X used for this purpose must be witnessed to be valid.
Contrary to the negation or negative perception delegated to the letter X, there is a significant resilience in the usage displayed by the letter's placement. This unique letter is also recognized as the symbol of multiplicity, the Roman numerical symbol for 10, and also the mark of a forgotten treasure. As a verb, to X 'off/out or to cross off/out' means to add such a mark. It is quite common, especially on printed forms and document, for there to be squares in which to place x marks, or interchangeably checks.
It is traditionally used on maps to indicate locations, most famously on treasure maps. It is also used as a set of three to mark jugs of moonshine for having completed all distillation steps, while additionally signifying its potency relative to legal spirits, which rarely exceed 80 proof.
Among Native Americans in the 18th and 19th centuries, the X mark was used as a signature to denote presence or approval, particularly regarding agreements and treaties.
In the 21st century, the X mark started to be used to indicate collaborations between fashion brands.

Unicode

Unicode provides various related symbols, including:
SymbolUnicode Code point Name
☐U+2610BALLOT BOX
☒U+2612BALLOT BOX WITH X
✗U+2717BALLOT X
✘U+2718HEAVY BALLOT X

The mark is generally rendered with a less symmetrical form than the following cross-shaped symbols:
SymbolUnicode Code point Name
XU+0058LATIN CAPITAL LETTER X
xU+0078LATIN SMALL LETTER X
×U+00D7MULTIPLICATION SIGN, Hybrid (biology)
ΧU+03A7GREEK CAPITAL LETTER CHI
χU+03C7GREEK SMALL LETTER CHI
ХU+0425CYRILLIC CAPITAL LETTER HA
хU+0445CYRILLIC SMALL LETTER HA
⌧U+2327X IN A RECTANGLE BOX
╳U+2573BOX DRAWINGS LIGHT DIAGONAL CROSS
☓U+2613SALTIRE
✕U+2715MULTIPLICATION X
✖U+2716HEAVY MULTIPLICATION X
❌U+274CCROSS MARK
❎U+274ENEGATIVE SQUARED CROSS MARK
⨉U+2A09N-ARY TIMES OPERATOR
⨯U+2A2FVECTOR OR CROSS PRODUCT
?U+1D465MATHEMATICAL ITALIC SMALL X
?U+1D4CDMATHEMATICAL SCRIPT SMALL X
?U+1F5D9CANCELLATION X
?U+1F5F4BALLOT SCRIPT X
?U+1F7A8THIN SALTIRE
?U+1F7A9LIGHT SALTIRE
?U+1F7AAMEDIUM SALTIRE
?U+1F7ABBOLD SALTIRE
?U+1F7ACHEAVY SALTIRE
?U+1F7ADVERY HEAVY SALTIRE
?U+1F7AEEXTREMELY HEAVY SALTIRE