The asterisk or a similar multi-pointed glyph used in typesetting. Printers use stars to mark footnote references, denote omissions, or build decorative borders and section breaks. In hot metal composition, special star matrices were cast to create distinct visual elements within the text block.
Heard on the job
Drop a star at the end of that paragraph to point to the reference at the bottom of the page.
Insider tip
While writers call it an asterisk, compositors often just call it a star, especially when referring to the physical piece of type.
Also heard as
- asterisk