Fullwidth Asterisk

It is the fullwidth form of the ordinary asterisk.

It is an asterisk shaped for a fullwidth text grid. Read it as punctuation for a note, a correction, or an attention cue; the width changes its placement, not its asterisk family.

An asterisk is an old annotation sign, not a computer invention. In ancient Greek scholarship in Alexandria, star-shaped critical signs marked passages for readers to examine. A papyrus preserves an Origenian use from the late third to early fourth century CE, marking additions. The fullwidth form belongs to a later typographic need: matching punctuation to East Asian fullwidth text grids. In Japanese, ※ is a separate reference mark also used for notes or attention.

What does ＊ mean in a message?

Usually, it points back to nearby text.

If a follow-up puts ＊ before or after a corrected word, read it as a repair to the earlier message. The ordinary asterisk has this digital-writing use, and the fullwidth form can carry it in CJK text.

After a price, rule, or claim, it points to a condition or explanatory note. Sent alone, its purpose is unclear without nearby text; ask the sender what they meant.

Why is ＊ wider than *?

The width reserves a fullwidth slot in CJK text.

Choose ＊ where the surrounding text expects fullwidth punctuation. Japanese style guides can call for fullwidth symbols even beside halfwidth Latin letters and digits. Use * when a form, code, or style rule calls for ASCII. Fonts can make the two look close, but software can treat them as different characters; follow the receiving system's requirement.