How To Put An Asterisk Above A Letter | Word, Mac, Unicode

Most keyboards only give you a regular asterisk (*) that sits on the baseline. If you need the asterisk over a letter—like a tiny star hovering on top—you’ll get better results by using a Unicode “combining” mark or a built-in character picker.

The goal here is a copy-friendly result that doesn’t fall apart when you paste it into another app. You’ll learn the fastest way in Microsoft Word, plus options for Google Docs, macOS, Windows, and plain Unicode text.

What “Asterisk Above A Letter” Means In Text

There are two looks people mix up:

• After-letter star: a* (easy, but the star is not above the letter).
• Over-letter star: a⃰ (the star sits above the letter).

The over-letter version is usually built with a Unicode combining mark called Combining Asterisk Above (U+20F0). It attaches to the character right before it. That means you type the letter first, then you insert the combining mark.

How To Put An Asterisk Above A Letter

Method 1: Use The Unicode Combining Asterisk Above (U+20F0)

1. Type the base letter. Example: a.
2. Insert the combining mark U+20F0 right after it.
3. You should see a⃰.

This result is two code points acting like one visual unit. If your font or app doesn’t position marks well, the star may drift. The troubleshooting section covers quick fixes.

Fast Entry In Microsoft Word With Alt+X

Word can convert typed Unicode codes into characters. Type the hex code 20F0, then press Alt+X to convert it to the combining mark. If the code sits right after a letter, select only the 20F0 before pressing Alt+X so Word converts the code without touching the letter. Microsoft describes this workflow in its page on Unicode character codes in Word.

Method 2: Insert The Mark From A Character Picker

If you’d rather not type codes, use an “Insert special character” picker and search for “combining asterisk above.” Many pickers also let you search by Unicode block. U+20F0 appears in the block “Combining Diacritical Marks for Symbols,” listed in the Unicode chart here: Combining Diacritical Marks for Symbols.

Putting An Asterisk Above A Letter On Windows And Mac

You don’t need a different character for each platform. The main differences are how you input U+20F0 and how well your app renders it.

Windows Tips

• Word: Alt+X conversion is quick and repeatable.
• Other apps: copying a⃰ from Word often works better than trying to input the mark from scratch.

macOS Tips

• Use your app’s symbol picker when available, then place the mark after the letter.
• If you type these often, set up text replacement so you can punch in a short trigger and get a⃰ back.

Make It One-Step With Built-In Shortcuts

Once you have a⃰ working, the next step is saving time the next ten times you need it.

AutoCorrect In Word

1. Create the combined character once (example: a⃰).
2. Select it and add an AutoCorrect entry.
3. Use a trigger you won’t type by accident, like ;a* → a⃰.

Text Replacement On macOS

1. Open System Settings → Keyboard → Text Replacements.
2. Add a shortcut like ;astara and set it to replace with a⃰.
3. Repeat for letters you use a lot.

Using It In Google Docs And WordPress

If you’re writing in Google Docs, you can still use U+20F0. The smoothest move is to build the marked letter once in Word (or any editor that renders it well), then paste it into Docs. If it lands a bit off-center, change the font for that word and check again.

Insert U+20F0 In Google Docs

1. Type your letter first, like a.
2. Go to Insert → Special characters.
3. Search for combining asterisk above.
4. Click the character, then close the picker. You should see a⃰.

If the picker can’t find it by name, try searching by block name (“combining diacritical marks”) or paste the mark itself (⃰) into the search box and add it after the letter.

Use It Inside WordPress

In WordPress, you usually just paste the finished text (like a⃰) into the block editor. Two quick checks keep you out of trouble:

• Switch preview modes: look at both editor and front-end preview, since themes can change fonts.
• Test on mobile: mobile browsers often use different fallback fonts, which can move marks.

If the mark renders poorly on your theme’s font stack, you have two safe fallbacks: keep the word in a font that positions marks cleanly, or use a baseline asterisk (a*) for that one spot.

Picking The Right “Star” Character

There are several star-like characters in Unicode. Some sit on the baseline, some sit lower, and one is meant to combine above the previous character. If you paste the wrong one, you’ll fight spacing all day.

Common Star Characters And How They Behave

• * (U+002A): standard asterisk, sits after the letter on the baseline.
• ∗ (U+2217): a math asterisk operator, also baseline.
• ⁎ (U+204E): low asterisk, baseline and slightly lower.
• ⃰ (U+20F0): combining asterisk above, attaches to the prior character.

If your goal is “star on top of the letter,” U+20F0 is the one designed for that job. The rest are useful in math and typography, but they won’t sit above the character without extra formatting.

Why The Mark Sometimes Looks Different Between Apps

Even when you use the right code point, apps can render it differently. A combining mark needs font data that says where the mark should sit. When that data is missing or weak, the app guesses.

Some editors also normalize text when you paste it, and a few strip marks they think are decorative. That’s why it helps to keep a fallback plan: either accept the baseline asterisk in that destination, or export to a format where fonts are embedded.

A Quick “Does This App Keep Combining Marks?” Test

1. Type a.
2. Add U+20F0 so you see a⃰.
3. Copy that character and paste it back into the same line.
4. If it stays attached and sits above the letter, the app is treating it as a combining mark.

Compatibility Notes Before You Use It Everywhere

Combining marks depend on font support. Many common fonts place marks cleanly. Some decorative fonts don’t, and some apps swap fonts behind the scenes. If you’re sending the text to other people or posting it in a form, do a quick preview in the destination.

Simple Checks That Catch Most Issues

• Switch fonts once (Arial or Times New Roman is a good test).
• Paste into a second app and confirm the star stays above the letter.
• If you export to PDF, confirm the font is embedded so the mark keeps its position.

Quick Method Table For Common Scenarios

This table shows what tends to work best, depending on where you’re typing and what you need the text to do.

Where You’re Typing	Best Method	What To Watch
Microsoft Word (Windows)	Letter + 20F0 + Alt+X	Pick a font that positions marks well
Microsoft Word (Mac)	Insert U+20F0, then save a shortcut	Some fonts render marks wide
Google Docs	Paste a⃰ or insert the combining mark	Try a font swap if it shifts sideways
Plain text (notes, chat, forms)	Use U+20F0 after the letter	Some apps may strip unusual marks
HTML content	Use a⃰ directly and test on mobile	Font choice drives placement
LaTeX	\overset{*}{a} or \stackrel{*}{a}	Works best in math mode
PDF-first output	Typeset or export with embedded fonts	Locks the visual result

Step-By-Step: Word On Windows With Alt+X

1. Type the letter you want, like n.
2. Type 20F0 right after it, so you have n20F0.
3. Select only the 20F0 part.
4. Press Alt+X.
5. You should see n⃰.

If Word converts something unexpected, undo and retry with the selection step. Selection gives you control when the code sits beside normal text.

Troubleshooting: When The Asterisk Won’t Sit Right

The Asterisk Sits After The Letter

• Confirm you used U+20F0, not a regular asterisk (*).
• Rebuild it by typing the letter first, then inserting the combining mark.

The Asterisk Drifts Left, Right, Or Too High

• Switch fonts and check again.
• Bump font size up one step, then back down, to force a re-render in some editors.
• If you need a locked visual for print, export to PDF with embedded fonts.

Copy/Paste Breaks It

• Try “paste as plain text” so the destination keeps the Unicode sequence.
• If the destination strips combining marks, use the baseline version (a*) or a PDF/screenshot for that one-off case.

Second Table: Ready Patterns You Can Copy

These examples are copy-friendly in apps that keep combining marks.

Pattern	Result	Use Case
a + U+20F0	a⃰	General marking over a letter
n + U+20F0	n⃰	Variables and labels
e + U+20F0	e⃰	Quick test for font positioning
Word: n20F0 → Alt+X (select 20F0)	n⃰	Fast entry in Word on Windows
LaTeX: \overset{*}{a}	Typeset star-above letter	Math and academic writing
Text replacement: ;astara → a⃰	a⃰	One-step typing after setup
HTML: a⃰	a⃰	Web copy with font testing

Last Check Before You Publish Or Share

If this text will be seen outside your own device, do a two-minute check: open it on a second device, switch fonts once, then confirm the mark stays attached. When it passes that test, you can treat it like normal text.