# How many arms on your asterisk? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 7, 2025, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722 "2025-04-07T04:45:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722/21 "2025-04-07T13:20:10Z")
> [@solost](#): > > So it is kind of a fascinating (to me, at least šŸ˜Š) what a variety of asterisk styles exist, and thatā€™s only getting to the ā€˜Gsā€™. When I was in high school, downloading customized fonts was actually free. I have backups with old folders containing over 100 customized fonts. I havenā€™t loaded them into a computer for several years, but I think Iā€™m going to go ahead and do that. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722/22 "2025-04-07T13:25:08Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Wow, Iā€™m surprised that something as obscure as an asterisk would actually be customized in various fonts. Iā€™m sort of surprised that you think an asterisk that obscure. (No insult intended. Just observing different personsā€™ perceptions/experiences.) Iā€™ve read a little bit about font design and recall reading about various ampersands - and being stricken by how different they can be. Asterisks donā€™t strike me as terribly more obscure than ampersands. I have to correct my previous statement - I saw several asterisks on my paper calendar (yes, I am that much of a Luddite!), and they are written with 8 points. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722/23 "2025-04-07T13:31:00Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Asterisks donā€™t strike me as terribly more obscure than ampersands. I would respectfully disagree. Asterisks are superscript characters (meaning they appear smaller than the main type and are raised off the baseline) whereas ampersands are full-size characters. And I donā€™t know if this is a fact or just my opinion, but I think that, due to their unique shape, ampersands are often paid special attention by font designers as kind of ā€˜statementā€™ designs, sort of like an artist signature. Dammit, now Iā€™m probably going to go down an ampersand rabbit holeā€¦ šŸ™„ Thanks a _ **lot** _, **Dinsdale**! ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722/24 "2025-04-07T13:34:16Z")
> [@solost](#): > > - **Goudy Stout** has probably the most unique asterisk Iā€™ve seen so far-- itā€™s a diamond shape in a windowpane formation, with 4 smaller diamonds separated by a small spacing, like the Windows logo turned to a 90 degree angle. I looked that one up [here](https://fontzone.net/font-details/goudy-stout) to get a look at it. (My all-time favorite font, Bizzarro, doesnā€™t have an asterisk.) Something like 20 years ago I compiled all of my downloaded and shareware CD fonts onto one DVD. I forget how many fonts it was (and many no doubt duplicates or near-clones) but it was at least tens of thousands. Gigabytes worth. I wonder if the DVD-R is still readable?.. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722/25 "2025-04-07T13:39:43Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Asterisks are superscript characters Not trying to be disagreeable or claiming any expertise, but isnā€™t a nonsuperscripted asterisk used in some math functions - and possibly other contexts? Iā€™ve long been modestly interested in font design/choice, but like many areas, once you get beyond a pretty superficial curiosity, it gets damned deep damned fast. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722/26 "2025-04-07T13:39:46Z")
Ref posts upthread I am surprised to notice the \* on my keyboard is a 5-pointer. Which in turn surprises me that the symbol that key drops into my post as rendered in the default font is also a 5-pointer. If youā€™d asked me an hour ago Iā€™d have said both were 6-pointers. My original contribution to the thread is that one of the signature features of the old computer language APL was famous for using a very special set of special characters for everything. Such as AƗB for multiply A times B, and Aā‹†B for A raised to the B power. With the 5-pointedness of the asterisk being at the time very weird and unique. Most other typewriters, computer keyboards, and typefaces of the era used 6-pointers. When I write one with a pen or pencil, itā€™s 3 strokes yielding 6 points. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722/27 "2025-04-07T13:39:48Z")
6 ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722/28 "2025-04-07T13:42:02Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Ref posts upthread I am surprised to notice the \* on my keyboard is a 5-pointer. Which in turn surprises me that the symbol that key drops into my post as rendered in the default font is also a 5-pointer. My Apple keyboard has a 6-pointer, which drops into my post as a fiver. The scales have fallen from my eyes! Up until this point my life has been a hollow mockery! ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722/29 "2025-04-07T13:46:15Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Iā€™ve read a little bit about font design and recall reading about various ampersands - and being stricken by how different they can be. This is the ampersand that someone made that tossed me down this rabbit hole. The original poster didnā€™t say, but it is obviously from the new ChatGPT/Sora combo, which clearly has Bing/DE3 beat in the area of meat-based typography. [![](https://i.imgur.com/9f6Xfgj.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/9f6Xfgj.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722/30 "2025-04-07T13:48:06Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Not trying to be disagreeable or claiming any expertise, but isnā€™t a nonsuperscripted asterisk used in some math functions - and possibly other contexts? Well, maybe the asterisk isnā€™t _technically_ superscripted, since text that is _set_ to superscript is typically raised above the height of the normal text. But the asterisk does normally appear smaller and raised off the baseline. I think when the asterisk is used as a multiplication symbol, itā€™s simply used as-is, like so: 2 \* 2 = 4 This is true superscript > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > ā€¦the new ChatGPT/Sora combo, which clearly has Bing/DE3 beat in the area of meat-based typography. Nice marbling-- that looks like a prime cut of ampersteak. Iā€™d salt & pepper that up and grill it to a nice medium rare. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722/31 "2025-04-07T13:54:00Z")
When writing by hand, I typically make them as five pointed stars with the crisscrossing lines. My second instinct would be to do a plus with an ex over it, but thumbing through my notebooks, these days, at least, itā€™s always a small star. Typographically, I first think of six points, then five points, then maybe eight points, but thatā€™s just too many points when you get into smaller sized fonts. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722/32 "2025-04-07T13:56:19Z")
I just asked ChatGTP for a meat asterisk and it threw a wildcard on that wildcard and gave seven points. [![](https://i.imgur.com/LsKLDjw.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/LsKLDjw.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722/33 "2025-04-07T14:08:33Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > > > Bing thinks of 5-pointed asterisks whether they be made from noses > > > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > > > or ears > > _Shudder_ > > Those are creepy as hell. it could be a lot worse. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722/34 "2025-04-07T14:33:54Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > it could be a lot worse. Asterdiks? ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722/35 "2025-04-07T18:20:50Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > The asterisk I write has six arms because that is easier to draw by hand (three strokes) than five (five strokes). I prefer 6 pointed, but 5 pointed stars only require 5 stokes, without the pen ever leaving the paper. 6 pointed cannot be easily drawn without lifting the pen. Iā€™m unsure how you draw a 6 pointed star in 3 strokes - could you link to an example? Yeah, pedantry, but I am actually interested in the answer. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722/36 "2025-04-07T18:27:22Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Dammit, now Iā€™m probably going to go down an ampersand rabbit hole Anyone, anyone at all, who is interested in typefaces has been down that rabbit hole. I am fond of the [Garamond Italic](https://za.pinterest.com/pin/108860515969193841/) version. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722/37 "2025-04-07T18:31:11Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > I am fond of the [Garamond Italic](https://za.pinterest.com/pin/108860515969193841/) version. Yes, that may be the most stylish and elegant of all the ampersands (the _ **champ** _ersand?). ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722/38 "2025-04-07T18:51:40Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > I prefer 6 pointed, but 5 pointed stars only require 5 stokes, without the pen ever leaving the paper. 6 pointed cannot be easily drawn without lifting the pen. > > Iā€™m unsure how you draw a 6 pointed star in 3 strokes - could you link to an example? We have a difference in definition. I think a star is distinctly different from an asterisk. An asterisk is simple lines with no interior area, whereas the lines in a star get wider as they get closer to the center. So a 6-point asterisk is three separate lines meeting in the middle. You are correct, you canā€™t draw it without lifting the pen between each line. If you were to give me some text with the standard 5-pointed star ā­ on it, Iā€™d think you were telling me ā€œgood jobā€ or something. I wouldnā€™t interpret it as an asterisk. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722/39 "2025-04-07T18:59:33Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I wouldnā€™t interpret it as an asterisk. I largely agree with you, but not all typeface/font designers doā€¦ \* is in theory different to ā˜† but not guaranteed. On my version of Android, both are 5 pointed stars. The obvious counterpoint is the Israeli flag style 6 point star made of two triangles. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722/40 "2025-04-07T19:02:06Z")
The one on my keyboard has 5 points. Wikipedia claims 5 or 6 is most common. I canā€™t recall ever drawing one by hand? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-arms-on-your-asterisk/1016722.md?page=3)