-"-

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

Apparently an expanded form of an ordinary ditto mark, represented by a quotation mark, with a horizontal stroke on either side indicating the span of several connected words or figures to be repeated. The precise date and place of origin of this Scandinavian form are uncertain.

Compare Swedish -"- (“ditto mark”).

Symbol

-"-

1. (typography) a ditto mark placed beneath several connected words, figures or other entries, indicating that the entire sequence is to be repeated from the line above

   Mandag ..... åpent hele dagen
   Tirsdag ..... -" -

   Monday ..... open all day
   Tuesday ..... same as above

Usage notes

• The symbol is known as gjentagelsestegn in Norwegian.
• It is often printed with spaces as - " -. In handwriting, the horizontal strokes may be lengthened to show the width of the material being repeated.
• The extended form is documented in Norwegian and Swedish handwriting, while ordinary ditto marks are used internationally.
• Unlike the dedicated Unicode ditto mark 〃 (U+3003), -"- is composed of three separate characters.

References

• “gjentagelsestegn” in Norwegian Academy Dictionary (NAOB).
• Ditto mark on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Swedish

Alternative forms

• -||- (“uncommon”)

Symbol

-"-

1. (typography) A ditto mark, in Swedish nedflyttningstecken; a symbol indicating that the words or figures above it are to be repeated; similar to English " and Translingual —〃—.

   Äpplen .... 5 kr
   Päron .... -"-

   Apples .... 5 kr
   Pears .... "

Usage notes

• Generally, a single use of -"- per line is sufficient, even when it represent multiple words or sentences.