Symbols used to mark references have no name*

There is absolutely no name** for typographical symbols that are used to mark references in text.

I mean those characters – often they are asterisks, or daggers, or even double daggers – that are used to tell you that not all is as it seems. Or that it's time to read the small print. Or that the 20% discount offer is actually only available during a full moon.

If you can tell me the name of these symbols, I'll post you a box of chocolates.‡

* As far as I know.
** As far as I know.
‡ As long as you live in my road.

Mark

Font of confusion

I was intrigued to read in this week’s Design Week (2 Oct 2008) that:
“Salisbury Cathedral’s new font, designed by water sculptor William Pye, was consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury on Sunday.”

Firstly, I was surprised that Salisbury Cathedral were taking their brand concerns so seriously that they’d chosen to have their own typeface cut. And secondly, I was impressed that the Archbishop had consecrated it. Of course, it turns out that the font is a font font, and not (as I first thought) a font. I hope that’s all clear now.

I’ve tried to excuse my own brief confusion on the grounds that I’m used to constant references in our studio to fonts in the typographical sense. But it all served as a timely reminder that words with multiple meanings need to be used carefully.

Next time I’m wondering why I need to explain a word or phrase that seems obvious to me, maybe I’ll remember how words and phrases can have more than one meaning, and my baptismal blog here.

You can read about Salisbury Cathedral’s new font on their website.
Mark