* It's not backslash!

I think you can only do * with an unpaired * terminator * ?

I think you can only do * with an unpaired * terminator ?

I think you can only do xx with an unpaired xx terminator xx ?

[that line is this with no spaces around :I think you can only do x * x with an unpaired x * x terminator x * x ?

Nope, looks like as long as it's spaced from the prior/next character then it doesn't cause italicisation.

Help says: "Text surrounded by asterisks is italicized, if the character after the first asterisk isn't whitespace."