The humble shift 8.

[Gawian]

So I've seen the humble shift 8 (*) used in a number of manners.

To put *emphasis* on certain words.
* To make lists.
To blank out some disgusting sw**r words.

But one use puzzled me, and I don't see it that often, but it's stuck with me in my writing, and I'm not sure if it's right.

[Imagine a lovely paragraph of writing here. Not too long because it's ending now though.

****​

[Now imagine another paragraph here, but not connected to the previous. Maybe it's a different time, or different character.]

^ THAT ^

Is that right? Or was it just a writers quirk that I seem to have inherited?

 

[Mouse]

You mean a scene break. People use asterisks or hashes. I use a hash.

#​

Like that.

 

[Gawian]

Is it OK to use. For example, I've got a scene when a group of people are in a meeting. The meeting ends, and the next scene/paragraph takes place four hours later. Is it right to use??

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Yes, you should use it there. It tells the typesetters that there needs to be a break in the text.

 

[Mouse]

Is it OK to use. For example, I've got a scene when a group of people are in a meeting. The meeting ends, and the next scene/paragraph takes place four hours later. Is it right to use??

Yes, it's fine!

When you come to submit your MS, guidelines might tell you to sub in standard MS format. In which case you use a hash instead. Some aren't bothered. Carry on as you are for now.

 

[Gawian]

Ta very much chaps.

I'll change to hashes.