Asterisks are used in markdown.

One at each end of a letter, word or phrase does italics. Two does bold, three does bold italaics.

Hence, m * a * s * h treats the A as italics, (MAS*H)and the single one after s as an individual *

If you want to do it where it visually works, you have to use the \ to escape the asterisk

Iirc, to get m*a*s*h you slap the backspace in front of each asterisk, but I can’t be sure, so I may need to edit this a few times until I get it right, then edit in the correct process

Edit: yup! \ in front of each asterisk does it.