√ and ✓ can look surprisingly similar in small fonts or low-resolution screenshots.
Both have a check-like rising stroke, but they’re completely different Unicode characters.
√ is U+221A SQUARE ROOT.
✓ is U+2713 CHECK MARK.
√ vs ✓ at a Glance
| Character | Code point | Unicode name | Main role |
|---|---|---|---|
| √ | U+221A | SQUARE ROOT | Mathematical radical |
| ✓ | U+2713 | CHECK MARK | Check/tick symbol |
Unicode cross-references the two because their shapes can be confused, but one belongs to mathematical notation and the other is a check-mark symbol.
What Does √ Mean?
U+221A SQUARE ROOT, also called the radical sign, represents the square-root operation.
For example:
√9 = 3
Here, √9 means the principal square root of 9, which is 3.
This distinction matters because the equation:
x² = 9
has two real solutions:
x = ±3
If you want to see why ± represents those two choices, Plus-Minus ± vs Minus-Plus ∓ explains that notation.
Does √ Include the Long Bar Over the Expression?
The Unicode character identifies the radical sign itself.
In structured mathematical layout, the renderer can stretch the radical and draw a bar over the complete expression being rooted.
For example, a math system can typeset:
√(a + b)
with the radical extending over the full radicand.
MathML, TeX, and equation editors handle that as mathematical structure rather than relying on one fixed-width √ glyph.
What Is ✓?
U+2713 CHECK MARK is a check or tick symbol.
It can be used to indicate things such as:
- a completed item;
- a correct answer;
- a selected option;
- approval;
- a successful status.
Those meanings come from the document or interface. The character itself isn’t a mathematical square-root operator.
Why Can √ and ✓ Look So Similar?
Both have a short initial stroke followed by a longer rising stroke.
The exact design depends on the font, so the difference can become surprisingly small at low resolution.
In mathematical layout, √ often connects to an overbar covering the radicand, which makes it easier to identify. A check mark is normally a standalone tick.
Is ✓ Ever a Square Root Symbol?
Not as a Unicode character.
U+2713 remains CHECK MARK wherever it appears.
Someone can use it as a visual substitute for √, but the resulting text would contain the wrong character for mathematical square-root notation.
Is √ a Check Mark in a Checklist?
No.
If the underlying character is U+221A, it remains SQUARE ROOT even if a particular font makes it look like a check mark.
Character identity doesn’t change with visual context.
What About ✔?
✔ is yet another character:
U+2714 HEAVY CHECK MARK
So ✓ and ✔ aren’t simply one code point displayed at different weights.
- ✓ → U+2713 CHECK MARK;
- ✔ → U+2714 HEAVY CHECK MARK.
What About ∛ and ∜?
Unicode separately encodes:
- U+221B ∛ CUBE ROOT;
- U+221C ∜ FOURTH ROOT.
They’re part of the same family of mathematical radical symbols as √.
You’ll find them alongside other operators and notation in math symbols rather than in the check-mark family.
Can Copy and Paste Tell the Difference?
Yes.
If you copy:
√
you’re copying U+221A.
If you copy:
✓
you’re copying U+2713.
A Unicode inspector, editor, search system, or parser can distinguish them even if a font makes the glyphs look similar.
How Can You Identify the Exact Symbol?
Check its Unicode value:
- U+221A → √ SQUARE ROOT;
- U+2713 → ✓ CHECK MARK;
- U+2714 → ✔ HEAVY CHECK MARK.
If you only have a screenshot, context helps: a radical covering a mathematical expression is likely √, while a standalone tick in a form or checklist is likely ✓.
When the original text is available, though, the code point is definitive.
The Main Difference
√ is a mathematical radical used for square roots.
✓ is a check mark used as a visual indicator.
Their shapes can overlap enough to cause confusion, but their Unicode identities and functions are completely different.