What do you call this thing in novels?

garroad_ran

Sometimes, in order to divide different sections of a text, marks like the one in the middle of this picture are used.

Does anybody know if they have a specific name?

Tox

To the Wiki!

Flourished Section Breaks wrote:

Space between paragraphs in a section break is sometimes accompanied by an asterism (either proper ⁂ or manual * * *), a horizontal rule, fleurons, or other ornamental symbols. An ornamental symbol used as section break does not have a generally accepted name. Such a typographic device can be specifically referred to as dinkus, space break symbol, paragraph separator, paragraph divider, horizontal divider, thought break, or as an instance of filigree or flourish. Ornamental section breaks can be created using glyphs, rows of lozenges, dingbats, or other miscellaneous symbols. Fonts such as Webdings and Wingdings include many such glyphs.

tinwhiskers

Also for anyone else who is nosey. The novel is Kokoro by Natsume Sōseki 1914

garroad_ran

Fantastic, thanks! I was coming up completely blank on what to even start looking for.

Tofystedeth

Tox wrote: »

To the Wiki!

Flourished Section Breaks wrote:

Space between paragraphs in a section break is sometimes accompanied by an asterism (either proper ⁂ or manual * * *), a horizontal rule, fleurons, or other ornamental symbols. An ornamental symbol used as section break does not have a generally accepted name. Such a typographic device can be specifically referred to as dinkus, space break symbol, paragraph separator, paragraph divider, horizontal divider, thought break, or as an instance of filigree or flourish. Ornamental section breaks can be created using glyphs, rows of lozenges, dingbats, or other miscellaneous symbols. Fonts such as Webdings and Wingdings include many such glyphs.

Totally calling this a dinkus from now on and in as many contexts as possible.

Shivahn

Tofystedeth wrote: »

Tox wrote: »

To the Wiki!

Flourished Section Breaks wrote:

Space between paragraphs in a section break is sometimes accompanied by an asterism (either proper ⁂ or manual * * *), a horizontal rule, fleurons, or other ornamental symbols. An ornamental symbol used as section break does not have a generally accepted name. Such a typographic device can be specifically referred to as dinkus, space break symbol, paragraph separator, paragraph divider, horizontal divider, thought break, or as an instance of filigree or flourish. Ornamental section breaks can be created using glyphs, rows of lozenges, dingbats, or other miscellaneous symbols. Fonts such as Webdings and Wingdings include many such glyphs.

Totally calling this a dinkus from now on and in as many contexts as possible.

Yeah, I almost posted last night that the highlight of the evening was me realizing that I could use the word "dinkus" and sound smart about it.

Hahnsoo1

Shivahn wrote: »

Tofystedeth wrote: »

Tox wrote: »

To the Wiki!

Flourished Section Breaks wrote:

Space between paragraphs in a section break is sometimes accompanied by an asterism (either proper ⁂ or manual * * *), a horizontal rule, fleurons, or other ornamental symbols. An ornamental symbol used as section break does not have a generally accepted name. Such a typographic device can be specifically referred to as dinkus, space break symbol, paragraph separator, paragraph divider, horizontal divider, thought break, or as an instance of filigree or flourish. Ornamental section breaks can be created using glyphs, rows of lozenges, dingbats, or other miscellaneous symbols. Fonts such as Webdings and Wingdings include many such glyphs.

Totally calling this a dinkus from now on and in as many contexts as possible.

Yeah, I almost posted last night that the highlight of the evening was me realizing that I could use the word "dinkus" and sound smart about it.

This is just like the time I discovered what a floruit was. I can't NOT use it now! (It's the parenthetical "dates" in a biography. Like David Bowie (1947-2016))