[Boatanchors] Re: [Hammarlund] Please Read, Admin Request

[Eugene Hertz]

Duane, isn't the "period period period" called an ellipses and doesn't it have special meaning? I checked meriam webster dot com and it says, "
1 a : the omission of one or more words that are obviously understood but that must be supplied to make a construction grammatically complete 
  b : a sudden leap from one topic to another
2 : marks or a mark (as ... dot dot dot or dash dash --) indicating an omission (as of words) or a pause"

I think using it as a pause is acceptable in our current vernacular. Perhaps your software can be upgraded or configured to accept it?  Unfortunately it has become quite pervasive in its use in our modes of written correspondence. Much the way emoticons have become so popular :)

Regards


>-----Original Message-----
>From: Duane Fischer, W8DBF [mailto:dfischer at usol.com]
>Sent: Wednesday, August 4, 2004 02:04 PM
>To: hammarlund at mailman.qth.net
>Subject: [Hammarlund] Please Read, Admin Request
>
> 
> 
>Please do not use multiple punctuation marks as a substitute for a period, as 
>in: Thanks to all...More coming soon...See ya... This causes those who use a 
>synthetic speech device all sorts of issues they should not have to be subjected 
>to. A single '.' will suffice. 
> 
>Additionally, please do not use multiple exclaimation marks, question marks or 
>commas. Use just one, that is all that is needed. 
> 
>The use of multiple periods causes the speech conversion software to think it is 
>one continuing sentance. The sotware looks for a single or double space 
>following a 'period' to indicate the end of the sentance. The multiple "..." 
>causes it to read on as if it were the same sentance. This results in confusion 
>to the reader/listener, as the thoughts are all run together. 
> 
>Whether you realize it or not, you should have been taught in early elementary 
>school when you learned how to read that there was a specific pause length 
>following a 'period' and a 'comma'. The 'period' is twice that of the 'comma'. 
>The speech software takes all of the rules we humans ignore into account. When 
>we ignore the correct procedures, it results in less than desireable for those 
>who must use screen reading software. 
> 
>It requires no additional time or physical effort to type it correctly, so 
>please make an effort to do so and avoid multiple punctuation marks. Thank you 
>on behalf of all the print handicapped, as well as the visually impaired. 
> 
>Duane Fischer, W8DBF 
> 
> 
> 
>_______________________________________________ 
>List Administrator: Duane Fischer W8DBF 
>** For Assistance: dfischer at usol.com ** 
>---- 
>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hammarlund 
>