Transpose Symbol in LaTeX

Write a transpose as a superscript in math mode. The simplest is A^T; many authors prefer a symbol that cannot be confused with a variable T: A^\top (⊤), A^\intercal (⊺, amssymb) or an upright A^\mathsf{T}. For the conjugate transpose use A^*, A^H or A^\dagger.

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Transpose notations

A^T
$A^{T}$
Italic T: quick, but looks like a variable T.
A^\top
$A^{⊤}$
The "top" symbol ⊤, a common unambiguous choice.
A^\intercal
$A^{⊺}$
Intercal ⊺, sits lower than ⊤ (amssymb).
A^\mathsf{T}
$A^{T}$
Upright sans-serif T.
A^\mathrm{T}
$A^{T}$
Upright roman T.
A^{-\top}
$A^{- ⊤}$
Inverse of the transpose, (A⁻¹)ᵀ.
A^*
$A^{*}$
Conjugate transpose (also the adjoint), common in mathematics.
A^H
$A^{H}$
Hermitian (conjugate) transpose, common in engineering.
A^\dagger
$A^{†}$
Conjugate transpose, common in physics.

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LaTeX

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Transpose symbol examples

Each result below is drawn from the LaTeX under it. Copy the code, edit it on this page, or open it in the full editor.

Transpose of a product
$(A B)^{⊤} = B^{⊤} A^{⊤}$
LaTeX
```
(AB)^\top = B^\top A^\top
```
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A 2×2 transpose

{[\begin{matrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{matrix}]}^{⊤} = [\begin{matrix} a & c \\ b & d \end{matrix}]

LaTeX

\begin{bmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{bmatrix}^\top = \begin{bmatrix} a & c \\ b & d \end{bmatrix}

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Column vector as a transposed row
$x = (x_{1}, x_{2}, \dots, x_{n})^{⊤}$
LaTeX
```
\mathbf{x} = (x_1, x_2, \dots, x_n)^\top
```
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Quadratic form
$x^{⊤} A x$
LaTeX
```
\mathbf{x}^\top A \mathbf{x}
```
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Least squares
$\hat{β} = (X^{⊤} X)^{- 1} X^{⊤} y$
LaTeX
```
\hat{\beta} = (X^\top X)^{-1} X^\top y
```
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Symmetric matrix
$A = A^{T}$
LaTeX
```
A = A^\mathsf{T}
```
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Conjugate transpose
$A^{*} = {\overset{―}{A}}^{T}$
LaTeX
```
A^* = \overline{A}^{\mathsf{T}}
```
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Which transpose symbol to use

All of these are correct LaTeX; the choice is style. A^T is fastest to type but reads like "A to the power T", which is confusing when T is also a variable (time, temperature, a matrix). \top and \intercal are symbols, and an upright \mathsf{T} or \mathrm{T} makes it clear the T is a label rather than a variable.

Whatever you choose, define it once so it stays consistent across the document:

LaTeX

\newcommand{\T}{\mathsf{T}}
...
$A^\T$, $\mathbf{x}^\T A \mathbf{x}$

Conjugate transpose

For complex matrices the transpose is usually combined with complex conjugation. Mathematics often writes A*, engineering Aᴴ, and quantum physics A† (\dagger). Note that A^* can also mean the plain complex conjugate in some texts, so state your convention.

Common mistakes

Two superscripts in a row raise "Double superscript". Group the exponent or use parentheses.
Instead of
```
A^-1^T
```
Write
```
A^{-\top}  or  (A^{-1})^\top
```
A prime is widely read as a derivative or a different matrix; it is ambiguous as a transpose.
Instead of
```
A'
```
Write
```
A^\top
```
\intercal comes from amssymb; \top is built into LaTeX.
Instead of
```
A^\intercal  (without amssymb)
```
Write
```
\usepackage{amssymb}
```

In Overleaf, MathJax and Word

Overleaf and pdfLaTeX
\top, \mathsf, \mathrm and \dagger are built in; \intercal needs amssymb.
MathJax and KaTeX
MathJax and KaTeX render ^T, ^\top, ^\intercal, ^\mathsf{T} and ^\dagger without extra setup.
Microsoft Word
Write the matrix and its transpose here and use Copy for Word to paste an editable Word equation.