quote:

Originally posted by oldman:
I'm not referring to 'cents' vs the cent sign. I mean, .49 cents and 49 cents are NOT the same thing.

You're right. They're not the same. And how about those ads that promise to "save you $1000's of dollars"? That, too, is wrong on more than one level! Where are the proofreaders?

Before I began RVing I lived for a while in a different area of the country (culture shock for this native Texan) and got a kick out of two signs that were posted not far from where I lived.

One was hand-written: "Baby sale. Turn over the bridge."

The other was a DOT sign: "No littering. Driver fined $300 if thrown from car." The proofreader took another day off, I guess.

Bev

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This message has been edited. Last edited by: Art and Bev: SKP#33257,

Chris,
I was answering those that asked if the cents sign was still available on computers, and answered how to use it in word.

No doubt that .49 cents is less than half a cent.

But wasn't the whole thread about not being so nit picky?

In jest, OK.

But let's not put off any other folks who do not do math, the english language, and are not professionals.

I think we can glean what they mean from their posts, and when they say .49 cents, they mean 49 pennies.

If we are unclear, is that not our problem?

There is correct usage, and popular usage, and here we have a lot of Internet usage.

If you can't get the meaning, just ask.

If you get the meaning and choose to correct, then that is what the whole thread is about.

What's the point?????

Can we just read the content, and be personally responsible for reading what is intended? Now that is smart, no?

Silent granted.

So why a need for vocal corrections? One upmanship?

Easy answer RV, many have little positive to contribute and it is either remain silent or say something negative.

quote:

Originally posted by RV:
Can we just read the content, and be personally responsible for reading what is intended?

In our house we have a saying, "Listen to what I meant not what I said."

Linda

Hmmmm .... Readin' through this thread has set me to thinkin' again... if correctors and cranky
ol' criticizers be the problem, I thought of a way I can provide a whole bucket full of relief for you good folks!

Just point the busy body mudsuckers my way! If bad spellin', faulty button punchin' and a
unique use of the american language sets 'em to squirmin', readin' what I slap onto the internet
is sure to give 'em the bowlegged, wiggley quivers for sure and for certain...

They'll be so occupied a settin' me straight that they're bound to leave the rest of you folks a clear trail to enjoy your visitin' in peace!... without a whole lot of: "Oh lordy! you put a 'postophe where it don't belong! My God! What kind of a beastie momma did you have?!"

Bottom line? 1. It's fairly easy to see who in here would be a pleasure to set around a fire with, swappin' lies... and who would soon find themselves... sittin' by... themselves! and 2. I ain't got no time at all to waste on worryin' about what some whiner thinks about what I think about... too many laughs I haven't gotten to laugh yet....

OOPS! Ya think the 'corrector' is gonna notice I put in two bottom lines when I only said I was gonna name one shhh.... don't tell 'em... maybe they won't notice...

quote:

Originally posted by RV:
You mean the "¢" symbol? In Word just hold down the "ctrl" key and then hit the "/" key and the "c" key in succession, then release the "ctrl" key.

Just my 2¢ worth.

Are you serious? I retired after working for over thirty years as a secretary, and used Word for the last 20, and never knew this trick.

Learn sumpin' every day.

RV bows to the most excellent and concise humor and wit of Yonderer! Makes me think of Will Rogers, with witty comments that strike right to the core of an issue.
Well done!

Roxanne,
Yep, I'm serious, try it in word.

Now offline, and reading the newspapers, and other professional publications including store signs and flyers, I am appalled today at how there seems to be a lack of editors and proofreaders in the professional world today.

But in forums I suspend my critical eye, as I am focused on the message. And my friends.

I just have to comment that I'm one of those who usually notices incorrect grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. It often takes me an hour to type even a short message because I'm such a stickler for how my response (or question or comment) is written. HOWEVER, what bugs me even more than spotting an mistake is when someone else feels "obligated" to point out those mistakes someone has made!

Something else that I've seen that I consider rude has been when a poster publicly informs another that ALL CAPS INDICATE THAT A PERSON IS SHOUTING. In reality, there are some vision-impaired people for whom all caps is the easiest way for them to read what's written on a computer. Other times (such as one I saw recently when a new poster was reprimanded) it was simply an oversight that the caps lock was on. I know at least one person who stopped posting on a message board I frequented because every time she posted, someone asked her to stop shouting--and in that case it was definitely the forum's loss!

Like RV, I prefer to focus on the meaning of the message--and on my friends.

OK...I'm stepping off my soapbox now!
Brenda

I have been following this thread with interest as someone with an often too critical eye (although I generally don't point out spelling mistakes publicly). However, I will offer a slightly opposing view to this statement (or at least the first part of it):

quote:

Originally posted by cruzgal:
Something else that I've seen that I consider rude has been when a poster publicly informs another that ALL CAPS INDICATE THAT A PERSON IS SHOUTING. In reality, there are some vision-impaired people for whom all caps is the easiest way for them to read what's written on a computer. Other times (such as one I saw recently when a new poster was reprimanded) it was simply an oversight that the caps lock was on. I know at least one person who stopped posting on a message board I frequented because every time she posted, someone asked her to stop shouting--and in that case it was definitely the forum's loss!

In computer circles, typing in ALL CAPS is generally considered to be shouting or typing in anger. Personally, I find it harder to read. The text all seems to bleed together to me.

However, there are nice ways of letting a person know, especially since the other person may not be aware of this convention. This also keeps the door open for the person typing in caps to state that they are typing that way for vision-related reasons, although I'm not quite sure how typing in caps helps that person unless everyone else does so - they end up only being to read their own posts, don't they?

Because forums, e-mail, and other text communication generally lacks a visual component (i.e., human facial expression), I think it is even more important to be as clear as you can when posting. (I am not addressing anyone in particular, merely making a generalized observation about textual methods of communication.)

On the other hand, I think it generally becomes clear after reading a few posts who is and who is not shouting when they type in ALL CAPS. They're the ones with nothing nice to say.

So that I am not accused of being one of those people, let me say that I have enjoyed reading through the various sections of this forum in my short time here. I am amazed at the wealth of knowledge possessed by the members herein.

Walt

Quick question: What is the plural of "forum"?

Oh, and Brenda? I do the same. I earned a pretty good living being a stickler for punctuation, spelling, etc. I can't tell you how many folks are geniuses (genii?) in their own field, but can't spell, punctuate or compose a paragraph that makes sense.

Roxanne.......

Forums or fora; geniuses or genii. All are correct, per Webster, but I'd be uncomfortable using fora or genii except in a professional document. Fortunately I no longer have to worry about those.

I spent a lot of time editing during my career. I'm appalled, now that I've retired, at the mistakes I see that get past (sleeping?) proofreaders. Have they not learned the basic rules of spelling, punctuation, grammar or sentence construction?

Frustrating!! "(and there errers are so obviuos)", she said, biting a hole through her tongue.

Bev

====================

quote:

Originally posted by Art and Bev: SKP#33257:
Frustrating!! "(and there errers are so obviuos)", she said, biting a hole through her tongue.

Bev

====================

"There Errors" might be very obvious, even to the untrained eye. But I have to be especially sharp to catch the "Here Errors" since they're so much more likely to slip by without notice.

LOL!!! (Sorry, couldn't resist.)



Brian

Figured it was time.....I'm sure this has been posted before but thought I'd post it again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How many forum members does it take to change a light bulb?

1 to change the light bulb and to post that the light bulb has been changed.

14 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs and how the light bulb could have been changed differently.

7 to caution about the dangers of changing light bulbs.

6 to argue over whether it's "lightbulb" or "light bulb" ...

Another 6 to condemn those 6 as stupid.

2 industry professionals to inform the group that the proper term is "lamp".

15 know-it-alls who claim they were in the industry, and that "light bulb" is perfectly correct.

19 to post that this forum is not about light bulbs and to please take this discussion to a light bulb forum.

11 to defend the posting to this forum saying that we all use light bulbs and therefore the posts are relevant to this forum.

36 to debate which method of changing light bulbs is superior, where to buy the best light bulbs, what brand of light bulbs work best for this technique and what brands are faulty.

5 People to post pics of their own light bulbs.

15 People to post "I can't see S$%^!" and their own light bulbs.

7 to post URL's where one can see examples of different light bulbs.

4 to post that the URL's were posted incorrectly and then post the corrected URL's.

13 to link all posts to date, quote them in their entirety including all headers and signatures, and add "Me too".

5 to post to the group that they will no longer post because they cannot handle the light bulb controversy.

4 to say "didn't we go through this already a short time ago?"

13 to say "do a search on light bulbs before posting questions about light bulbs"

1 moderator to lock the light bulb thread.

1 forum lurker to respond to the original post 6 months from now and start it all over again.