earmark

Hello,

You have several documents in list form and some have marks before them for identification. Is it OK to use "earmark" to describe the marked ones?

ex.
* Form 1811
Form 1812
Form 1817
* Form 1820

To someone you write: "Documents earmarked are those you've advised us to pay."

It is the word I think of using but it seems unclear to me what the dictionary gives as a meaning.

ear·marked, ear·mark·ing, ear·marks
1. To reserve or set aside for a particular purpose. See Synonyms at allocate.
2. To mark in an identifying or distinctive way.
3. To mark the ear of (a domestic animal) for identification.

Can my use belong to no. 2 definition?

Thanks in advance.

Personally, I would always use earmark in the definition no 1 sense. I would earmark something for somebody or something.

I would therefore say something like "The documents marked with (or 'indicated by') an asterisk (or whatever) are those . . . "

Hello heypresto,Don't you think it's rather long a phrase to say it that way? Do you think of another word I can use instead?

I'm with heypresto. I think sense 1 is the dominant use. I might say 'I've highlighted/marked/indicated the relevant forms with xxx'.

EDIT
If you want something shorter, you could say, 'The asterisked documents ...'

Are you saying that though no. 2 gives the meaning with which I want to use it, no. 1 is popular, so I must avoid using it?In all counts I'd be happy using the suggestions you've given.Thank you!

I'm saying that your sentence sounds a little unnatural - at least in my variety. You can also say 'The starred documents ...'

OK. Thank you so much for these many options.