How to Start Effective Threads (Part 2)

I often go through several itterations, trying to get my threads and posts concise. (I feel some mention of the term 'Brevquot' would be worthwhile here if I'm ever going to get it into the dictionary. Maybe a plug for the fine range of virtual products available from KrisDel^TM enterprises too)
There are quite a few which don't even get posted as they miss the point, are antagonistic, not funny etc.
I find I make most typos and nonsensical posts when I get fired up and respond in frustration, such as when someone misses my point. The 15 minute 'edit' window is a big help, although I've just got into work and spotted typos in the response I made over my breakfast tea and toast about 20mins ago.
Still, as my Mum would say "It won't change the price of bread"
Del
(BTW, I think your smilies are some of the best around, not too fiddly or twee)

Thank you, Del. My vocab expands daily around here.

Definitions of twee on the Web:

• dainty: affectedly dainty or refined
  wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
• Overly quaint, dainty, cute or nice
  en.wiktionary.org/wiki/twee
• tweeness - The quality or state of being twee
  en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tweeness

I concur with Jaxy's points about correcting grammar and using spell check.

As for Del's brilliant concept of Brevquot (which he was too brev to explain): shorter is better. No one wants to read War and Peace on CR4.

You kicked off with a spelling mistake in your first sentence - "iterations" not "itterations." Thank you.

• Fix Punctuation and Grammar (in both title and message)

Which means I just have to point out your inapproapriate use of aka which is an abbreviation for "also known as" and as such its generally accepted use is in indicating alternative names for people. What you really wanted there was the nice Latin phrase "id est", aka i.e., translated as "it is". But at least you didn't write it phonetically (ay-kay-ay) as I've seen in some American publications. I agree with Del about the smilies, however, I think that the selection is too limited. Just a few more would complete the range...

Now, I'm bound to have made a mistake somewhere in this post, and I'm sure that 34point5 will find it

I found one. You forgot to use punctuation at the end of your last sentence. I don't think the wink counts.

Punctuation, spelling, and grammar are all important but I think we can also agree that the message is too.

That should be on topic.....especially the last sentence,

Punctuation, spelling, and grammar are all important but I think we can also agree that the message is too.

One of my weakest points, is getting the message across before I lose my train of thought, then the presentation suffers.

p911

I don't know why the others haven't decifered your syntax, for me (a non-english speaker) is pretty clear that you meant: "...but I think we can also agree that the message is _^important too. " in other words you used the word "too" as synonym of "as well" rather than "too much".

Yahlasit

Hello Yahlasit.

I think the same as you. I was just teasing her a little bit.

SavvyExacta ended her sentence with a pseudopassive stranded preposition (man, I better look that up). Yes, without a comma just before, I think that would be correct. I see 34Point5 has some to share in #11. I am willing, however, to be corrected.

As SavvyExacta notes in #8, this forum isn't really intended to be a place where you are graded on your typing or English language skills. I agree, and seldom pay much attention to that stuff in the forum.

I had forgotten just how complex language can be. This is a pretty good topic, and I am enjoying it!

Ah, Sweet Lady of Flower, Blade and Chain: I answer your call. A.K.A. would of course be the proper acronym form: but we can concede the caps and stops have devolved into the undisciplined mire of todays' "usage"; but is not your Ladyship remiss in the employment of a semi-colon at some juncture? Possibly twixt Cheshire and in whatever manner?

My Valdivostokian Noble, your words of wisdom chime so sweetly in breast; semi-colons are indeed the most misunderstood of the marks of punctuation. I employ them where necessary and, I hope, correctly. I am rather fond of the half-breeds, which is why one finds them between Cheshire and both Denbighshire and Flintshire, usually with longbows.

On the caps and stops point, I was, of course, quoting when I used "aka", so perhaps that idea should be more properly directed at the OP? Equally, I could have made the quoting more obvious by using the "(sic)" notation (L. thus), thus adding to Doorman's list.

I note, also, that no-one has seen fit to berate me for starting a sentence with a conjunction; on the subject of my failing to start a new paragraph when moving to an entirely new idea, I blame the editor which, when I pressed the "Submit" button, reformatted my entire post.

Breast forsooth be central to the uttered. Be that to audience, or the mind of the reader. Conjunction? Ratiocination allows in the context of flow and Ulysses tradition, said is clearly a continuance to the epigraph.

And of course, conjunctivitis, though not pretty, is no reason for scorn. Though in past times was associated with flagellation.

Hmnmm. A nice latin phrase. While used in the English language, there are a number of common (or perhaps not so common anymore) latin 'shorthand' phrases I have learned. I had never really considered it, but I would suppose these phrases are a mystery to all but the most accomplished English-is-not-my-mother-tongue speakers and readers of English. I know I have used some of these on CR4, and did not consider it an issue. I remember a few:

i.q. (idem quod) the same as

id. (idem) the same

i.e. (id est) that is

e.g. (exemplum gratium) for example

i.o. (in illo ordine) in that order

s.h. (in sensu hoc) in this sense

i.a. (inter alia) among other things

And, one I never get to use,

infra dig (infra dignitatem) which means "beneath one's dignity".

Whew! I wish I had known there was a test today... I woulda studied!

The point? Even if I think I am writing clearly, there may be a number of members or guests who have not been exposed to such shorthand. I, for one, will take a little more care with my postings. There is no sense making a language barrier any worse than it already is.

more more more!! we need to know more!

Aw, chrisg288. I think I lost just about everybody already.

n.b., When reading Doorman's posts, caveat lector!

nice

i.e. is "that is"....what then is latin for "which is"?

And there is also latin phase that means "in other words"

Hello P911.

id est translates to "that is". It is also commonly used as to mean "in this case", "in other words" or "which is", depending on the context of the sentence.

Ooops!

I seem to have inadvertantly highjacked your thread with what was intended to be a humorous aside.

Of course, my abject grovelling is tempered somewhat (greatly) by the fact that you have subsequently edited your post to make mine null and void. Sneaky!!

On the more general subject of English and typing, I try only to correct those a) I "know" reasonably well on the site and b) are either English native speakers, or are so good I can't tell they're not.

If I were to offer suggestions to a non-native speaker, they would be in the form of an explanation of how an native English speaker might phrase something to avoid ambiguity - and I would only do this if it were unclear which meaning had been intended. On the yoga thread, I simply shared English names of poses for interest.

The nitpicking is done only to a select few who can give as good as they get! I've learnt lots from them.

26 - Wow -- GA!

27. Never use a big word when a dimunitive one will suffice.

"dimunitive one"