Vectors are usually denoted in lowercase boldface, as in formula_5, formula_6 and formula_7, or in lowercase italic boldface, as in a. (Uppercase letters are typically used to represent matrices.) Other conventions include formula_8 or "a", especially in handwriting. Alternatively, some use a tilde (~) or a wavy underline drawn beneath the symbol, e.g. formula_9, which is a convention for indicating boldface type. If the vector represents a directed distance or displacement from a point "A" to a point "B" (see figure), it can also be denoted as formula_10 or "AB". In German literature, it was especially common to represent vectors with small fraktur letters such as formula_11.