caret

IPA/ˈkærət/
IPA/ˈkærət/

caret — noun

  • caretsingular
  • caretsplural

1. a small symbol (^) placed under a line of handwritten or printed text to show ex

1.nounC1
Definition

a small symbol (^) placed under a line of handwritten or printed text to show exactly where something needs to be inserted

Example

Tomas drew a caret under the line to show where the missing word went.

collocation: draw a caret under the line

The teacher placed a caret on Yara's story where a verb was needed.

pattern: place a caret + where-clause

Common collocations
  • draw a caret
  • place a caret
  • insert a caret
  • mark with a caret
Synonyms
  • insertion mark

    a more descriptive term for the same symbol, used in copyediting

  • wedge

    an informal name for the caret based on its shape

Usage Note

Also known as a 'wedge' in some editing circles. This mark belongs to traditional proofreading and is rarely seen outside publishing or manuscript editing.

Common Mistakes

She drew a carrot on the paper.
She drew a caret on the paper.
'carrot' is a vegetable; a 'caret' is the proofreading symbol ^.

2. a blinking mark on a computer or phone screen that shows the user where new text

2.nounB2
Definition

a blinking mark on a computer or phone screen that shows the user where new text will appear when they type

Example

Amara moved the caret to the end of the line and typed her name.

pattern: move the caret to + location

The caret blinked on Hamid's screen, waiting for him to start the email.

Common collocations
  • move the caret
  • position the caret
  • blinking caret
  • place the caret
Synonyms
  • cursor

    a broader term for any on-screen position indicator, including the mouse arrow

  • insertion point

    the formal term used in word-processing software menus and dialogs

  • text cursor

    a more descriptive synonym that distinguishes it clearly from the mouse cursor

Usage Note

In everyday conversation, most users simply say 'cursor' rather than 'caret' for the blinking text marker. 'Caret' in this computing sense is more common in technical documentation.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

In computing, a caret is the blinking vertical line that marks where typed text will appear. The word cursor is broader — it can mean any on-screen position indicator, including the mouse arrow. The insertion point is the precise technical term used in word-processing software menus and dialogs, though it rarely appears in everyday conversation. A text cursor is simply a more descriptive synonym that distinguishes the blinking line from the mouse cursor. In practice, most people say 'cursor' in casual speech and rely on context to clarify which kind they mean.

cursor ↗insertion pointtext cursor

Etymology

LatinEnglish

From Latin caret, meaning 'it is lacking' or 'there is wanting' — the third-person singular present indicative of carēre, 'to lack, be without.' Printers and editors adopted the word as a proofreading mark in the 17th century to signal missing text that needed to be inserted.