How do you draw an asterisk in cursive?

Draw three short straight lines that all cross at a single centre point — one vertical, one slanted down-right, and one slanted down-left. Each arm should be the same length, producing a balanced six-arm starburst.

What is the asterisk used for?

Most often it is a footnote marker, drawing the reader's eye to additional information at the bottom of a page. It also serves as a wildcard in computing, a section break in literature (* * *), and a decorative bullet in lettering.

Why does the asterisk usually have six points?

The traditional typographic asterisk has six arms because that gives a balanced, symmetric shape that reads clearly at small sizes. Five-pointed asterisks (like the markdown '*') are more recent and come from typewriter and keyboard conventions rather than from manuscript tradition.

Vol. IV · Est. 2024

Cursive GenerationThe Art of Beautiful Writing

Easy Difficulty

How to Write the Asterisk * in Cursive

The asterisk — from the Greek 'asteriskos', meaning 'little star' — is a footnote marker, a wildcard, and a decorative dingbat all at once. In cursive and lettering work it appears as a small starburst that points the reader to a footnote, separator, or decorative break. It is one of the easiest symbols to letter because it is symmetric and forgiving.

The Asterisk (*) in 18 Cursive Fonts

See how the asterisk looks across every cursive font in our collection. Each font gives the symbol a unique personality — from formal calligraphic scripts to casual modern handwriting.

Tangerine

Dancing Script

Great Vibes

Parisienne

Sacramento

Kaushan Script

Alex Brush

Caveat

Mr De Haviland

Satisfy

Allura

Yellowtail

Arizonia

Bad Script

Berkshire Swash

Marck Script

Petit Formal Script

Pinyon Script

Want to see the asterisk inside a phrase?

Try our Cursive Generator to type any text containing the asterisk and preview it in all 18 fonts instantly.

How to Write the Asterisk (*) Step by Step

Draw a short vertical line, then add two more lines crossing through its centre at 60° intervals — first one slanting down-right to up-left, then one slanting down-left to up-right. The result is a six-pointed starburst with arms of equal length. Lift the pen between strokes to keep each arm crisp.

Common Mistakes

✗ Drawing arms of unequal length, making the asterisk lopsided
✗ Using only four arms (a plus sign rotated) instead of six
✗ Crowding the asterisk too close to the preceding word so it reads as a letter
✗ Sizing the asterisk like a letter when it should sit like a superscript at cap height
✗ Letting the arms cross at different points instead of meeting at a single centre

Stylistic Variations of the Asterisk

Different ways to draw the asterisk

Five-pointed star asterisk — used in markdown and modern typefaces
Six-arm asterisk — the traditional typographic form
Eight-arm asterisk — found in some serif fonts for footnote markers
Decorative dinkus (* * *) — three asterisks used as a section break
Heavy asterisk (✱) — bolder dingbat variant for emphasis

Where the Asterisk (*) Is Used

Real-world contexts where this symbol earns its place in cursive lettering.

*Footnote and disclaimer markers in editorial design
*Section breaks (* * *) in handwritten letters and journals
*Bullet-style markers on chalkboard menus
*Wildcard symbols in puzzle lettering and crosswords
*Decorative borders on greeting cards and certificates

Practice Tips for the Cursive Asterisk

1Drill the three-stroke star shape on its own to develop centring instinct.
2Practise sizing the asterisk at superscript height (about 60% of x-height) so it functions as a marker, not a letter.
3Try a row of dinkuses (* * *) for journaling — they make excellent decorative breaks.
4When using the asterisk as a footnote marker, leave a small gap between the preceding word and the asterisk so the eye can register both.

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Frequently Asked Questions about the Cursive Asterisk

Frequently Asked Questions

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