An "α-" (alpha) indicates the etheric oxygen linkage attaches to the anomeric carbon below the ring, and a "β-" (beta) indicates the etheric oxygen linkage attaches to the anomeric carbon above the ring (in the standard Haworth projection). The orientation of the etheric linkage at any of the other carbons is a fixed result of the chirality of each position in the specific monosaccharide, so further descriptor is required for the glycosidic bond.