We have a massive, multi-page macro at work that covers all the really common things that authors do that violate our house style -- lots of minutiae (like no periods in academic degrees -- MD, PhD, etc.), but that's our thing. We just run it first before we ever start editing.
Reynolds, I'm a dangerous-minded man on a ship loaded with hurt. Now, why you got me chatting with your peons?
Womack ,'The Message'
Delurking 1: Because we don't always check our e-mail.
Steph L. - Oct 04, 2009 1:54:26 pm PDT #377 of 3094
the hardest to learn / was the least complicated
Amy - Oct 04, 2009 2:02:00 pm PDT #378 of 3094
Because books.
And even the editors/writers here don't have flawless grammar when posting. God knows *I* don't.
Oh, god, me either. And I use ellipses and em dashes far too much here and in casual use.
SailAweigh - Oct 04, 2009 2:06:12 pm PDT #379 of 3094
Nana korobi, ya oki. (Fall down seven times, stand up eight.) ~Yuzuru Hanyu/Japanese proverb
I remember being taught the two spaces after a period, when I took a typing class with a real typewriter, but as soon as I switched to computers with word processors I quit doing that. I'm not sure why, somebody must have told me because I rarely think to change my habits that way. What did surprise me recently was taking a typing test on a computer and the program specified I was to put in two spaces after a period! It made me wonder, since this was a test for a county job, if the county still had scads of typewriters in use in their offices.
Tom Scola - Oct 04, 2009 2:09:08 pm PDT #380 of 3094
Mr. Scola’s wardrobe by Botany 500
Gordon Brown, or Tony Blair?
megan walker - Oct 04, 2009 2:12:59 pm PDT #381 of 3094
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist
Why was two spaces needed for typewriting, but not now?
tiggy - Oct 04, 2009 2:13:16 pm PDT #382 of 3094
I do believe in killing the messenger, you know why? Because it sends a message. ~ Damon Salvatore
for what it's worth, i was taught two spaces after a period on a computer.
Polter-Cow - Oct 04, 2009 2:16:35 pm PDT #383 of 3094
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
As was I. I was confused when I got to college and discovered it was okay to just use one space. It took me a while to break the habit. Hell, I still see it sometimes.
Zenkitty - Oct 04, 2009 2:16:42 pm PDT #384 of 3094
Every now and then, I think I might actually be a little odd.
massive, multi-page macro
Steph, this, exactly! Couldn't live without it.
I now live in fear of posting more than a sentence here
oh, no, don't fear! Post! We like your sentences!
Yeah, what was with 2 spaces, anyway?
Amy - Oct 04, 2009 2:18:53 pm PDT #385 of 3094
Because books.
Yeah, what was with 2 spaces, anyway?
I think everything was given equal weight/space on a typewriter? So it was maybe to help distinguish that it was indeed a period, and the end of a sentence?
I'm not sure; there's a lot of typesetting from newspapers, etc., that predates me.
Barb - Oct 04, 2009 2:20:27 pm PDT #386 of 3094
“Not dead yet!”
for what it's worth, i was taught two spaces after a period on a computer.
Me too. As part of the prescribed style for academic papers.