Asterisk/ˈæstərɪsk/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Referencing Details An asterisk directs readers to additional information, often at the bottom of the page. See the sections marked with an asterisk* for more examples. Pro Tip 2/3Highlighting Exceptions Used to indicate special cases or exceptions in a list or text. Items with an asterisk* are not included in the sale. Pro Tip 3/3Academic Writing Commonly used in academic texts for citations and clarifications. Several studies* have supported this theory.