A POINTING HAND SYMBOL (☞) USED TO DRAW ATTENTION IN MARGINS AND TEXT.
The manicule, from the Latin manicula, meaning “little hand”, is a punctuation mark shaped like a pointing finger, usually to the right.
It dates back to the 12th century, when scribes would draw them in the margins to highlight important passages.
These early manicules were often playful or ornate, with curled cuffs or dramatic fingers, and were drawn by hand, making each one unique.
With the rise of printing, the manicule became a standardized glyph. It appeared in early type specimens and still exists in many fonts today.
It may not be common in modern writing, but you’ll still spot it in signage, annotations, or when a designer wants to give something a little historical flair.
It’s the original call to action, literally pointing something out.
