⌨️ Lesson: Type the Asterisk (*)
The asterisk (*) is typed with Shift + 8. Hold left Shift with your left pinky and tap the key with your right middle finger. These 4 exercises take it from a single tap to real-world uses, with a live keyboard showing the exact fingers.
How to Type the Asterisk (*) Correctly
The asterisk — also called star symbol, multiplication sign — lives on the number row of a standard US keyboard. Hold the left Shift key with your left pinky, tap 8 with your right middle finger, then release both. It shares the 8 key. Hold the left Shift, then tap 8 with your right middle finger.
The asterisk marks footnotes, means multiplication in code and spreadsheets, and acts as a wildcard in searches. Practising it now means you can type it without looking down when you meet it in emails, code, passwords or documents.
Note: keys can move on non-US layouts (UK, German, French and others), so if the symbol does not appear, check that your keyboard language is set to US English.
Hold left Shift with your left pinky and press the 8 key with your right middle finger.
Your right middle finger types the 8 key. The left pinky holds the left Shift key, so both hands share the work.
The asterisk marks footnotes, means multiplication in code and spreadsheets, and acts as a wildcard in searches.
Keep Practising
Related lessons: Ampersand · Open Parenthesis · Capital letters · All typing lessons