Use Of Punctuation In A Post And What Is Annoying or Confusing

[JaneYoung]

Yes, it's me again, writing about an area that can help or hinder communication.

We are about to get busy again in ChiefDelphi and I've been noticing some uses of punctuation that were either annoying or did not help with communicating the thought or the information.

Here are a couple of suggestions that I have. Please feel free to add your own suggestions that you think will help with written communication. Also, please keep in mind that everyone makes mistakes and that no one is perfect. That's an interesting part of being human.

One is the overuse of exclamation points (!!!) in a thread title and also in a post.

'HELP!!!!!!!!' does not tell the reader a thing in ChiefDelphi. It doesn't define or describe the topic. All of the exclamation points leads one to think that the OP (original poster) is in a hurry or a panic, making a loud demand but not being clear regarding the nature of the problem. This slows down the process of actually being able to help the situation.

There is rarely a need for more than one exclamation point. Anything over that creates unnecessary drama or attention.

Ellipses (...) Understand their purpose. (Look it up.)

I am guilty of using these too much. I like them, hoping they show that I'm still thinking while writing or that my thought can be continued and is somewhat open-ended. Overuse of these creates confusion. Is every sentence open-ended and in need of being continued in the thought waves that we generate? I don't think so. Periods (.) serve a purpose that helps to clarify our writing and limit the run-on sloppiness that can occur and create chaos.

It is always a good idea to draft a post in Word. If it is a long post, it is even more valuable to do that. Then copy/paste into the thread here in CD. That provides an opportunity to read and edit until your post reflects what you are thinking in a way that reflects well on you, the writer.

A couple of thoughts as we move towards our busy season in CD.

Jane

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

One is the overuse of exclamation points (!!!) in a thread title and also in a post.

'HELP!!!!!!!!' does not tell the reader a thing in ChiefDelphi. It doesn't define or describe the topic. All of the exclamation points leads one to think that the OP (original poster) is in a hurry or a panic, making a loud demand but not being clear regarding the nature of the problem. This slows down the process of actually being able to help the situation.



Jane

Definitely some good stuff in here for all of us. I will admit that I am not the best at punctuation just ask my mom she will back me up.

But as for the overuse of exclamation points in a title, please don't do this. Many think that it will get readers attention because many times you are in need. Personally I avoid threads with titles like that and won't even read them due to the fact that the title has turned me away.

[XaulZan11]

I have one more to add. The use of an extra period like 3 or 4 lines after the last word. I guess I could overlook it in posts that include actual game hints, though

[Andrew Schreiber]

Using proper capitalization and spacing can help improve legibility.

In addition to helping with legibility proper punctuation will help get your point across. For example, if someone posts:

Originally Posted by Someone who really wants to make me ill

yo guyz!!!!!!!!1 i herd that next yrz gam iz going 2 be a water game i think that iz just 2 kool!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will immediately stop reading. It shows a couple things about you, primarily that you don't care. It also reflects negatively on your school, your family, and yourself. Don't say anything you might regret 3 years from now when you are looking for a job. It will still be here, attached to your name and indexed by Google.

The above being true, I am not a grammar cop. I will never be a grammar cop. I may say something to you about repeated abuses of the English language but I assure you that it is just letting you know you should take a look at it. EDIT: If you ever think I am being a grammar cop call me on it.

One last comment, misspellings and punctuation mistakes are fine. Don't be afraid to post because you are worried about your spelling or grammar. If you are REALLY afraid either read it in your head (remember, a comma usually means pause) and if it feels awkward ask someone to help you.

Oh, and use the Preview and Edit post buttons!

[dtengineering]

This is valuable advice. CD users need to remember that they are not posting to a private forum, or texting to their friends, but rather posting in a public arena where clear communication is appreciated.

If you are one of the many people on CD who has difficulty with written English, either through a learning difference or speaking English as a second language, please don't take this thread the wrong way.

We aren't asking people to be perfect... we're asking people to try their best and offering a few hints to help your posts be better.

Jason

[rtfgnow]

I like when these threads come up. I admit that I started out with no capitalization and ending my posts with no punctuation, especially when it was only one sentence.

These threads assisted me to become more literate and helped in my classes. The people that have posted in this thread are intelligent and I know that when they talk, I need to listen.

[Rick TYler]

Extra credit will go to anyone who correctly uses a semi-colon in a post.

You can also look like a genius by avoiding the most common spleling errors:

"Its" is possessive as in "the robot lost its transmission in the final match." "It's" is a contraction of "it is" as in "A better transmission -- it's what I need."

Their, they're and there are all different words.

Two, to and too are all different, too.

Homonyms don't have to be your enemies.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Rick TYler

You can also look like a genius by avoiding the most common spleling errors:

This is why one should never be a grammar cop; You will either make a mistake involving spelling, punctuation, or grammar; be wrong; or just generally make a jerk out of yourself.

Rick, I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume this was a typo. But it was to funny to pass up.

EDIT: I also assume that said extra credit will not be given for correctly using a semicolon in a post about code. Is this correct?

[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

This is why one should never be a grammar cop; You will either make a mistake involving spelling, punctuation, or grammar; be wrong; or just generally make a jerk out of yourself.

It is one of the Unwritten Rules of the Internet (dating back to Usenet days long before the Web) that any post criticizing spellling will include something that is misplleed. Even if you slpell-check and are extra-careful, the Forces that Control the Universe will mung the speleling before the message is delivered. Guaranteed. It's a rule.

In its FAQs AFU had this: "spelling flames are lame." I'll stick to that.

I don't troll on Delphi, but in the old days I would have just responded "YHBT, HAND." Oh, when men were men and Craig Shergold stories filled tafkac...

[Karibou]

Originally Posted by Rick TYler

I don't troll on Delphi, but in the old days I would have just responded "YHBT, HAND." Oh, when men were men and Craig Shergold stories filled tafkac...

I don't even know what YHBT, HAND means. I dnt think iv tlkd liek thIs since the end of 6th grade.

I'm extremely guilty of incorrectly using ellipses. I generally use them because I'm either not confident in what I'm saying (and they can imply uncertainty), or because I don't know how to finish my thought and would like someone to finish it for me. Or I use them to show my train of thought.

Remember, punctuation matters. A colon* is the difference between a panda eating, shooting, and leaving, and the same panda eating shoots and leaves.


*side note: I was amazed when nobody in my English class knew what a colon was used for. In a class of about 20 high school students, I was the only one who didn't respond to our teacher's question with a blank stare. It was shocking.

[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by Karibou

*side note: I was amazed when nobody in my English class knew what a colon was used for. In a class of about 20 high school students, I was the only one who didn't respond to our teacher's question with a blank stare. It was shocking.

Now, if that had been an anatomy class, you would have had LOTS of correct answers!

(ObExplanation: YHBT, HAND = You have been trolled, have a nice day.)

(MoreExplanation: In the above case, where I was NOT trolling, Andrew did what used to be known as "jumping into the boat." I was making a little joke and Andrew, who quite honestly doesn't know me nearly well enough to be sure that my misspelling was accidental, thought it was genuine. Hence, if I had been trolling to attract a clueless answer, and Andrew took the bait even if it were not actually proffered, I would have been expected to post, "and sometimes they just jump into the boat." We were all Really Funny in the Olden Tymes.)(See, misspelling "spelling" on purpose was a shibboleth. You utes have to go look that up, I don't have time to 'splain it right now.)

[Andy Baker]

I'll chime in here also.

Along with all of the wise advice above, be concise.

Keep in mind, every post you make on this site may be read by over 1,000 people within one day. These people include adults and students, executives and siblings, people who can hire you and people who can turn you down for a possible job. Each one of these readers create an instant opinion about you. Careful posting will drive positive opinions.

Andy B.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Rick TYler

(See, misspelling "spelling" on purpose was a shibboleth. You utes have to go look that up, I don't have time to 'splain it right now.)

It's a reference to Judges 12. If you said "Shibboleth", you were fine. If you said "Sibboleth", due to not being able to pronounce "Shibboleth", you were six feet under.

It's like a password.

Now, back on topic: I generally won't call you on spelling and grammar errors. If you're constantly misspelling words, or it's a really funny misspelling, I might, though. I make enough mistakes myself that I get enough proofreading practice that way.

[Chris is me]

But.. but... I love to use ellipses everywhere... like the National Weather Service does!

I'll try and cut back. Thanks! It's also a good idea to print out Andy's post, tape it to your computer screen, and read it every time you hit "submit".

(Firefox's spell checker conveniently doesn't seem to work for Quick Reply for me...)

[J93Wagner]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

But.. but... I love to use ellipses everywhere... like the National Weather Service does!

I'll try and cut back. Thanks! It's also a good idea to print out Andy's post, tape it to your computer screen, and read it every time you hit "submit".

(Firefox's spell checker conveniently doesn't seem to work for Quick Reply for me...)

That is extremely good advice, so good that it has been ingrained into my head whenever I'm about to post