title: Removing a character from a string in a list of lists
body: <p>I'm trying to format some data for performing an analysis. I'm trying to remove  <code>'*'</code> from all strings that start with one. Here's a snippet of the data:
  </p>
  
  <pre><code>[['Version', 'age', 'language', 'Q1', 'Q2', 'Q3', 'Q4', 'Q5', 'Q6', 'Q7', 'Q8', 'Q9', 'Q10', 'Q11', 'Q12', 'Q13', 'Q14', 'Q15', 'Q16', 'Q17', 'Q18', 'Q19', 'Q20', 'Q21', 'Q22', 'Q23', 'Q24', 'Q25', 'Q26', 'Q27', 'Q28', 'Q29', 'Q30', 'Q31', 'Q32', 'Q33', 'Q34', 'Q35', 'Q36', 'Q37', 'Q38', 'Q39', 'Q40', 'Q41', 'Q42', 'Q43', 'Q44', 'Q45'], ['1', '18 to 40', 'English', '*distort', '*transfer', '*retain', 'constrict', '*secure', '*excite', '*cancel', '*hinder', '*overstate', 'channel', '*diminish', '*abolish', '*comprehend', '*tolerate', '*conduct', '*destroy', '*foster', 'direct', '*challenge', 'forego', '*cause', '*reduce', 'interrupt', '*enhance', '*misapply', '*exhaust', '*extinguish', '*assimilate', 'believe', 'harmonize', '*demolish', 'affirm', 'trouble', 'discuss', '*force', 'divide', '*remove', '*release', 'highlight', 'reinforce', 'stifle', '*compromise', '*experience', 'evaluate', 'replenish']]
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>This should be simple, but nothing I've tried works. For example:</p>
  
  <pre><code>for lst in testList:
      for item in lst:
          item.replace('*', '')
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>just gives me back the same strings. I've also tried inserting an if statement and indexing the characters in the strings. I know I can access the strings. For example if I say <code>if item[0] == '*': print item</code> it prints the correct items.</p>