import re


def has_symbol_usage(symbol: str, text: str) -> bool:
    """ Determine whether a symbol occurs in a text. """

    # star matches any non-whitespace character
    symbol = symbol.replace('*', '\S*?')
    # match any use of symbol as a stand-alone element
    pattern = r'\b{0}\b'.format(symbol)

    # we're happy if just one match is found
    return True if (re.search(pattern, text) is not None) else False