Strange internet-related typing habits.

[Whisperlily]

Do you have any? I do. I think it stems from early internet "suggestions" to make communicating easier.

Early on, it was suggested to use ellipses liberally, and not with their intended meaning to make reading a chunk of text easier.

For instance... I'll use them in this paragraph... so you can see what I mean. When writing about something long and drawn out... using ellipses made it easier on the eyes. You kind of scan the page.... and thoughts come out as phrases. It breaks up the paragraphs... so that you don't lose your train of thought as easily. So now... I use them often... and in odd places... even though I know it isn't the intended use. This paragraph isn't long enough to show you... but you get the general idea. Sometimes they were even substituted for a period... Making a longer break between sentences... so you can follow "thoughts" better...read faster... and catch more meaning.

And capitalizing Random Important words? It helps them stick out so that you can see them better. Since reading on a Computer Screen is different than reading a book, it was suggested that you emphasize with a Capitalized Word. Using all caps, of course is a well known no, no... so the Capitalized Important Words took their place.

I have no excuses for my odd, incorrect, liberal comma usage. ;)

How about you? Any odd internet typing habits that don't occur in your normal "formal" writing?

[Mom2jnb]

I use parenthesis for "anything" that I think people may not quite "understand" if I don't "quote" them

:)
Alison

[WTMindy]

I put asterisks around a word to *emphasize*!

[Mrs Mungo]

I put asterisks around a word to *emphasize*!

I'm guilty of this and the ellipses issue. I also tend to type in really horrible run-on sentences and paragraphs. :tongue_smilie:

[mcconnellboys]

I feel as if I do these things because I'm attempting to make this more like real, spoken communication, rather than a formal letter that I'm writing. I tend to use the ellipses as a way of letting my thoughts trail off, before beginning another thought.....

I do still also have the bad habit of putting a word I wish to emphasize in all caps (if not surrounded by asterisks). That's because I'm a real dinosaur and we did this way, way back when.... Now that we have the ability to bold, I need to break out of this old habit.

Regena

[Tracey in TX]

Addicted to hyphens---just in case my thoughts aren't clear--and I'd prefer to not use endless commas, as they are "so last year" LOL

[my2kidsmom]

For instance... I'll use them in this paragraph... so you can see what I mean. When writing about something long and drawn out... using ellipses made it easier on the eyes. You kind of scan the page.... and thoughts come out as phrases. It breaks up the paragraphs... so that you don't lose your train of thought as easily. So now... I use them often... and in odd places... even though I know it isn't the intended use. This paragraph isn't long enough to show you... but you get the general idea. Sometimes they were even substituted for a period... Making a longer break between sentences... so you can follow "thoughts" better...read faster... and catch more meaning.

I do this...but only when I'm typing somthing that is more than one or two sentences. (Wait, no, I do it all the time.) Does that mean I've been using the internet for too long?:blink:

[j.griff]

I feel as if I do these things because I'm attempting to make this more like real, spoken communication, rather than a formal letter that I'm writing. I tend to use the ellipses as a way of letting my thoughts trail off, before beginning another thought.....

Regena

ITA, and Ivary with my writing/typing. Sometimes I try to follow the "rules", and other times I just type the same way I would talk to someone in person. (Someone I am comfortable talking to/with- not someone I feel like I have to be all formal with).

[KAR120C]

Elipses, commas, hyphens, quotation marks, parentheses, captial letters, emoticons, geeky pop culture references, embedded links.... I use all of them, all the time. But it's not from any particular "official suggestion" of internet usage... I actually talk just like that in Real Life.
:D
_________________
Erica, who can switch right over to LOLspeak (http://icanhascheezburger.com/2007/04/24/lol-kitteh-as-a-second-language-lksl-101-in-five-easy-steps/)... don't make me do it! ;)

[Leah]

nt

[Peek a Boo]

I keep mistyping the LOL!

I often wonder if i should include in teh signature a scavenger hunt for how many times i typed "the" as TEH. It shows up in otehr places too :-)
One of tehse days my typing skills will finally progress furtehr than hunt n peck....

I also still use the 'old' smilies a lot --add a nose, it's an old smilie :)

i practically refuse to indent paragraphs ANYWHERE anymore!

[gardenschooler]

Do you have any? I do. I think it stems from early internet "suggestions" to make communicating easier.

Early on, it was suggested to use ellipses liberally, and not with their intended meaning to make reading a chunk of text easier.

For instance... I'll use them in this paragraph... so you can see what I mean. When writing about something long and drawn out... using ellipses made it easier on the eyes. You kind of scan the page.... and thoughts come out as phrases. It breaks up the paragraphs... so that you don't lose your train of thought as easily. So now... I use them often... and in odd places... even though I know it isn't the intended use. This paragraph isn't long enough to show you... but you get the general idea. Sometimes they were even substituted for a period... Making a longer break between sentences... so you can follow "thoughts" better...read faster... and catch more meaning.


I don't see the liberal use of ellipses that way. I don't know, but it comes across to me as if the poster is not quite sure of what they're saying. Not commited enough to the sentence to let it have its own period or something, lol. I think it's very hard on the eyes, too.

I find I use too many dashed and parentheses. It's a lazy way of writing, and one that I'm trying to work on.