Asterism (typography) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids ⁂ |
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Asterism
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An asterism is a special symbol used in writing and printing. It looks like three asterisks (the little star symbols) arranged in a triangle, like this: ⁂. The word "asterism" comes from a Greek word meaning "group of stars."
This symbol is not used very often anymore, so it's quite rare to see it in modern books or articles.
What is an Asterism?
An asterism is a unique typographic symbol. Typography is the art and technique of arranging type to make written language clear and appealing. The asterism is made up of three star-shaped marks, called asterisks, placed together to form a small triangle.
What Was it Used For?
In the past, the asterism had a few important jobs in written text:
- It could show a small break in the story or article, like a mini-pause.
- It was sometimes used to draw special attention to a certain part of the text, making it stand out.
- It also helped to separate different small sections or sub-chapters within a book.
Today, other ways of showing breaks or new sections are more common, like using extra space between paragraphs or different headings.
Images for kids
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Asterisms used in the famous novel Ulysses by James Joyce. This picture shows how they looked in the 1922 edition.
See also
In Spanish: Asterismo (tipografía) para niños
