This is a convention for BOLD type, but since you can't bold plain text, the
convention was to use *asterisks* instead of bold.

In a similar way if you see text like _so_ it is interpreted as underlined
text when underlining can't be used or seen.

Michael
 -----Original Message-----
From:   PCSOFT - Personal Computer software discussion list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]  On Behalf Of Bill McKinney

Hi, I'm not sure that I'm in the right venue, but can anyone tell me what
the newsletter,( Fred Langa, Computer Lady, etc.) writers mean when they
enclose a word in astericks, like *smile*, *all* or *anything*. Goggle has
all kinds of answers. How do I know what they are *saying*?  I only see it
on the Internet, never in any printed item. BTW, Computer Lady says it
conveys emotion, but she did not say which emotion.    Thanks, Bill

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