Scene break symbols to copy and paste
A text symbol is the simplest scene break: it scales with the reader’s font size and works in every app. The first six below display reliably everywhere. The rest look lovely, but some e-readers don’t have them in their fonts, so test them before you publish.
By the Proselis team · Updated
Symbols that display everywhere
* * *
Dinkus
U+002AWorks everywhere#
Hash (manuscript style)
U+0023Works everywhere· · ·
Middle dots
U+00B7Works everywhere• • •
Bullets
U+2022Works everywhere§
Section sign
U+00A7Works everywhere~ ~ ~
Tildes
U+007EWorks everywhere
Symbols to test before you publish
⁂
Asterism
U+2042Test on Kindle❦
Floral heart
U+2766Test on Kindle❧
Rotated floral heart
U+2767Test on Kindle◆
Black diamond
U+25C6Test on Kindle✦
Four-pointed star
U+2726Test on Kindle❖
Diamond with cross
U+2756Test on Kindle
Which scene break symbol is safest?
The dinkus, * * *, is the safest choice. It uses a character every font has, readers recognize it at once, and it survives every conversion from Word to EPUB to Kindle.
How do you type these symbols?
Copy them from this page, or use your computer’s character picker. On Windows, press the Windows key and the period key, and open the symbols tab. On a Mac, press Control, Command, and Space.
Questions
Why does my symbol show as a box on a Kindle?
The font on that device doesn’t include the character, so the device shows a placeholder. Use a symbol from the first group, or use a small image instead.
What is an asterism?
An asterism is three asterisks arranged in a triangle, like this: ⁂. It looks more formal than a dinkus, but it needs a font that includes it.
Can I use these scene breaks in a book I sell?
Yes. The symbols are standard characters anyone can use, and the 50 ornaments are free to use in any book, in print or as an ebook, with no credit required.
Should every scene break in a book look the same?
Yes. Pick one design, and use it throughout so readers learn what it means on the first page.
Use these scene breaks in your book
All 50 of these designs are built into the Proselis themes. Choose one in the theme settings, and it appears at every scene break in your book. Writing is free. Publishing a book as an EPUB and a print-ready PDF is a one-time $20.