BS: a new punctuation mark

Subject: RE: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: Blackcatter
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 11:43 AM

You know, I have never used the: |. What the hell is it really used for?

Subject: RE: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 11:39 AM

"...", exactly three dots, is the correct form for ellipsis as used in research papers to indicate something has been omitted. "

Or in a quote on a Mudcat post for example, for precisely the same reason. But it also is correctly used, and probably more freequently used, as a way of finishing a remark, and leaving it open to the reader to assume that something more could be said, but...

In "Eats, shoots and leaves", the book about punctuation that just about every pedant in the UK received (and gave) as a present this Christmas, there is quoted a dialogue from Dud and Pete in "Not Only...but also" (talking about Neville Shute's novel A Town Like Alice) which is cheerfully relevant here:

DUD: What happened after that, Pete?
PETE: Well, the bronzed pilot goes up to her and they walk away, and the chapter ends in three dots.
DUD: What do those three dots mean, Pete?
PETE: Well, in Shute's hands, three dots can mean anything.
DUD: How's your father, perhaps?
PETE: When Shute uses three dots it means, "Use your own imagination. Conjuremteh scene up for yourself." (Pause) "Whenever I see three dots I feel all funny.

Subject: RE: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 11:38 AM

What does a * before and after a word mean? As in *work* for instance.

Sal

Subject: RE: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: GUEST,brucie
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 11:19 AM

It is taking forever to logon, when I can.

To address the thread topic, good idea.

Subject: RE: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 11:16 AM

Technically, "...", exactly three dots, is the correct form for ellipsis as used in research papers to indicate something has been omitted. Using more than three is non-standard and will result in turning your B- paper into a C paper.

On the other hand, in informal creative writing, you may use as many as you wish as often as you wish without fear of Dr. Momberger deducting points from your grade.

Bruce

Subject: RE: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 10:46 AM

I would say that .. is likely to be confused with ... or .......   
(Uncle Dave)

What's the difference between ... and ....... ?

I'm not really too clear how.. differs from.

Subject: RE: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 10:31 AM

I think of it a bit like a colon that has nothing to indicate and has fallen flat. Reminds me of a certain government official whose name is pronounced all wrong, imo...(sorry, I've always got to do "odds"...don't do "evens!"**bg**)

Subject: RE: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 10:31 AM

So why do they call it a "pipe"? It looks more like a cigarette.

If anything "?" should be called a pipe. It does vaguely resemble the type Sherlock Holmes smoked. In fact, the Spanish "¿" looks even more so.

Bruce

Subject: RE: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: JennyO
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 10:19 AM

| ~Oh, that's the pipe ~ didn't even know it was there~ |   #;^D

Subject: RE: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 10:04 AM

That's a relatively good idea about the pipe, Rapaire|

Subject: RE: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 10:03 AM

The pipe | and the exclamation point! are quite easily confused in many fonts.

Subject: RE: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: Amos
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 09:55 AM

[!

A

Subject: RE: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 09:51 AM

Well, since everyone, simply EVERYONE, uses computers, why not use the pipe (|)? It indicates finality, but would be hard to confuse with the ! and would indicate a wall-like deadness.

Or, in homage to Microsoft, how about the backslash (\)? Of course, that could also be used to indicate cutting remarks.

The square brackets also have possiblities when used alone: ] means "I agree, but not with any great enthusiasm" and [ means "I disagree but not very firmly." The pointed brackets (> and <) could mean the same things, but with enthusiatic response.


All those in favor say "aye"|

Subject: RE: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 09:41 AM

Taking you seriously (which may be a mistake) I would say that .. is likely to be confused with ... or .......   

Actually the application you describe, of flatness, lack of expression, is pretty durn indefinite. I see limited or confusing application for such a punctuation mark, even if there weren't the confusion possibility.

And third, actually what you are describing would not be a punctuation mark, it would be a rhetorical indicator, like the exclamation mark and the question mark.

"Other than that, good idea!"

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: C-flat
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 07:41 AM

..

Subject: RE: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 07:33 AM

So what you're saying, then, is that the first dot stands for "ho" and the second one stands for "hum"? Or maybe the first one stands for "what" and the second stands for "ever"?

Works for me..

Bruce

Subject: RE: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: freda underhill
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 07:03 AM

..colonic irrigation?

Subject: RE: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 07:03 AM

Well...............

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 06:57 AM

I think it need irrigation myself!
John

Subject: RE: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: freda underhill
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 06:48 AM

..not sure

Subject: BS: a new punctuation mark
From: Clean Supper
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 06:20 AM

Where else but here...

I have been thinking there is a need for a particular punctuation mark which looks like this:

..

Its purpose is to signify a complete absence of inflexion or emotion attached to the end of speech. It is to avoid the ambiguity of no punctuation without having to put in something that causes the reader to infer meaning.

It doesn't have the finality of the full-stop "." nor the pregnancy of the "..." I think of it a bit like a colon that has nothing to indicate and has fallen flat.

Someone used it in a message in the forum. The message started
"Hi.." and I took it to be the idealised non-committal opening. So there it is, in the publi domqin (to an extent).
Well, what do we think?