Writing readable Posts on the internet.

[nickao]

Here is a list that is meant to be added on to. List everything you can think of even if it is not generally seen here on the forum. A guest or newbie to posting can look this over and make more readable posts that way. I am just starting it out. Please add to it.

1) Do not use all caps it is like shouting(haven't seen many people do this on the forum)

2) Use single space between lines - Use double space between paragraphs

3) Break up any post longer than approx 5 sentences into paragraphs to make it easier to read on a monitor. Even if on paper your ideas
    would be one paragraph, on a computer screen many more lines than five or so is very hard to read.

4) Use your spell checker and use the "Add to dictionary" for abbreviations or unknown words commonly used here on the forum.

5) Re-read your posts and correct them. Sometimes while re-reading posts even a week later you can find errors, fix them.

6) Try to write the posts so someone who comes in at a later time can follow more easily without having to back track to find out what "it" is.
    Instead of "it" or "that" use the word you are referring to (I am bad at this and go back and fix my posts all the time).

7) Use commas to break sentences like you would talk more than the strict grammatical rules for commas. It's simpler to read.

8) Use bold to highlight bullets or topics you may label your paragraphs or ideas with. This helps readability and helps to find particular ideas        someone may remember and want to find later.

Maybe when a comprehensive set of guidelines is complete this could be in a section for people new to the forum or even new to the internet to look over. These are NOT rules that must be followed, but I think it will make a better quality forum, especially when using search to find ideas later. This list is not for English or grammatical errors, but making the posts more readable. I am sure any English teacher would have a field day reading internet posts. The point is to make the IDEAS more easily ascertained from the posts by formatting, not to correct people's writing skills.

Nickao

 

[Frank Pellow]

That's a good set of guidelines.  I will try to follow them.

 

[nickao]

Thanks Frank.

Nickao

 

[Dan Clark]

Thanks Frank.

Nickao

And rule number 8 is:

Always place a comma between "Thanks" and "Frank".  E.g., "Thanks, Frank."  ;D

Dan.

p.s. OTOH, you can omit the comma when writing "Thanks Dan!"  8)

 

[nickao]

I know your post is meant to be funny Dan and it was , but it gave me an idea for rule 9.

Rule number 9: Do not correct people's obvious typo's or their grammar. These rules are for readability not English corrections. Many guys here simply do not post because they can not type and getting on them because of grammar mistakes will make them less likely to post.

One of the best carpenters I know can barely read or write. His ideas are worth listening to though.

Thanks Dan!  ;D

 

[Dan Clark]

Nick,

Rule number 10: Refer to rule number 5 when posting rules about grammar and spelling.  I never correct someone else's grammar or spelling.  That is, unless the post is about grammar and spelling.  If you wanna talk the talk, ya gotta walk the walk.  8)

Dan.

p.s. Yes, my last sentence above violates almost every spelling rule.

 

[nickao]

The post is not about grammar, that is my point. It  is about formatting for readability.  I was aces in math - only average in English.

My eyes are getting so bad it is really hard for me to read some of the longer posts.

I think Mathew covers a little bit about what to write and not write in posts. It takes time to be able to respond to someones posts and using words that do not point to a specific person. I have found that using the word "someone" instead of "you" when responding to someone really makes a difference in how the person takes a comment. I almost wrote "your comment" instead of "a comment" which is what I am talking about.

How to respond to a post with stepping on toes, can have its own list probably ten rules long.

Nickao

Mathew bring up a good point on spelling being correct for key words.

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Good Afternoon,
Thanks nickao for starting this thread.

I feel spelling is important.  While I don't think it's a good idea to worry too much about every little thing, let's keep in mind that the search function is vital to a good forum.  If people are not careful about spelling key words, their ideas are essentially lost unless someone can remember exactly where the post is located.  As the forum grows, this becomes more and more important.

For example, let's say you start a discussion about the Rotez sander.  It's a great discussion.  Three months later, someone searches for "Rotex," but your post does not come up.  It's now lost unless someone manually pages back through the forum to locate it.

With that said, I don't think there is ever a reason to be obnoxious about spelling.  Just a gentle reminder, based on making sure your posts are as valuable as possible.

Matthew

 

[nickao]

Absolutely, spell check is vital, at least for me, but the difference between "to" or "too" really not need be corrected or commented on.

I try to type as fast as I can think, which is never going to happen. I make a lot of mistakes by trying to do so and rely on the spell check instead of stopping to fix a word as I type. This also goes back to rule #5, it's okay to correct your mistakes after re-reading.

Nickao

 

[Dan Clark]

The post is not about grammar, that is my point. It  is about formatting for readability.  I was aces in math - only average in English.

My eyes are getting so bad it is really hard for me to read some of the longer posts.

I think Mathew covers a little bit about what to write and not write in posts. It takes time to be able to respond to someones posts and using words that do not point to a specific person. I have found that using the word "someone" instead of "you" when responding to someone really makes a difference in how the person takes a comment. I almost wrote "your comment" instead of "a comment" which is what I am talking about.

How to respond to a post with stepping on toes, can have its own list probably ten rules long.

Nickao

Mathew bring up a good point on spelling being correct for key words.

Nick,

I'm sorry if I wasn't clear.  I agree strongly with your points.   Good grammar and spelling help a lot, but clarity is very important.   

FYI, I think i do good grammar and speling!

Dan.

p.s. One not-so-obvious feature of Firefox is that it has a real-time spelling checker built in.  You don't even have to hit the "Spell Check" button.

 

[dirtydeeds]

so is that mr webster's dictionary or the oxford english dictionary

it does colour the way we spell  :

and as for aluminium ...............................................................  ;D

and dont go near my gramma 

 

[nickao]

The post is not about grammar, that is my point. It  is about formatting for readability.  I was aces in math - only average in English.

My eyes are getting so bad it is really hard for me to read some of the longer posts.

I think Mathew covers a little bit about what to write and not write in posts. It takes time to be able to respond to someones posts and using words that do not point to a specific person. I have found that using the word "someone" instead of "you" when responding to someone really makes a difference in how the person takes a comment. I almost wrote "your comment" instead of "a comment" which is what I am talking about.

How to respond to a post with stepping on toes, can have its own list probably ten rules long.

Nickao

Mathew bring up a good point on spelling being correct for key words.

Nick,

I'm sorry if I wasn't clear.  I agree strongly with your points.  Good grammar and spelling help a lot, but clarity is very important. 

FYI, I think i do good grammar and speling!

Dan.

p.s. One not-so-obvious feature of Firefox is that it has a real-time spelling checker built in.  You don't even have to hit the "Spell Check" button.

Firefox is da-bomb its what I use. It does fix as you go, but you do have to make choices. It still misses or incorrectly chooses corrections every once in awhile.

 

[nickao]

so is that mr webster's dictionary or the oxford english dictionary

it does colour the way we spell  :

and as for aluminium ...............................................................  ;D

and dont go near my gramma 

Dirty deeds we even have a bunch of words here that are spelled different ways and English majors can fight it out to what is correct. I think it is the keywords that matter most.

My wife has a granmama and that's how she spells it. I have a grandma.

 

[Dan Clark]

so is that mr webster's dictionary or the oxford english dictionary

it does colour the way we spell  :

and as for aluminium ...............................................................  ;D

and dont go near my gramma   

DD,

It's not the spelling; it's the pronunciation!  Aluminium only has four sylables!  Boy, some people!  :

Dan.

 

[jonny round boy]

It's not the spelling; it's the pronunciation!  Aluminium only has four sylables!  Boy, some people!  :

Dan.

It has FIVE when you spell it correctly...

 

[Ned]

Rule number 9: Do not correct people's obvious typo's or their grammar. These rules are for readability not English corrections. Many guys here simply do not post because they can not type and getting on them because of grammar mistakes will make them less likely to post.

I agree.

There is a problem when misspellings interfere with searching.  We already have "MFT", "MFT1080", "MFT 1080".  Alternate spellings make it harder for other people to find things.  We've learned to live with this many variations, but adding another one would make it worse.  Anyone who posts about the "M.F.T." will be getting a polite PM from me asking him to change it.

One of the best carpenters I know can barely read or write. His ideas are worth listening to though.

Yes, I definitely want to hear what he has to say, but it is also true that misspelled words make it even harder for other members (especially in other countries) trying to understand your post, and I want them to hear from them, too.

If you know that spelling isn't your strong suit, please run the spell checker, guys.

BTW, I spell pretty good, but I do make mistakes.  I don't use the spell checker, but I do preview what I've written before I hit the Post button.  And do that again and again until I think it's ready to post.  Even then, things slip through.  Most of the time if you see that I've modified a post, it's just to correct a misspelling that slipped through. 

I have in the past made fun of some other members' typos.  I never ever did that to a newbie, because I didn't want to discourage him.  In fact, I only would comment on the mistakes made by normally good spellers, and then only when the misspelled word was funny or a seeming Freudian slip and we could all laugh about it.  Even though this was all meant as good fun, I can see how a newbie reading these threads could think we (or at least I) would jump on him for his spelling.  I'll try not to do that in future.

Ned

 

[dirtydeeds]

my mum (mom) bless her heart refused to be called grandma, "im gran" she said to my neice

charlotte being 2 at the time couldnt pronounce it

mum is now known as "gar" by all her grandchildren

 

[nickao]

My wifes mother demands she is called mommy. It is strange a 44 year old woman calling her mother mommy, but she does it.

Nickao

 

[graphex]

Ok, so my parents were both elementary school teachers, so I hope you understand that I have to point this out. By law.

It always gives me pause when someone uses an apostrophe when pluralizing something. Please, if you read this, leave the apostrophes for possessives and contractions.

Thanks

 

[nickao]

Here is a list that is meant to be added on to. List everything you can think of even if it is not generally seen here on the forum. A guest or newbie to posting can look this over and make more readable posts that way. I am just starting it out. Please add to it.

1) Do not use all caps it is like shouting(haven't seen many people do this on the forum)

2) Use single space between lines - Use double space between paragraphs

3) Break up any post longer than approx 5 sentences into paragraphs to make it easier to read on a monitor. Even if on paper your ideas
    would be one paragraph, on a computer screen many more lines than five or so is very hard to read.

4) Use your spell checker and use the "Add to dictionary" for abbreviations or unknown words commonly used here on the forum.

5) Re-read your posts and correct them. Sometimes while re-reading posts even a week later you can find errors, fix them.

6) Try to write the posts so someone who comes in at a later time can follow more easily without having to back track to find out what "it" is.
    Instead of "it" or "that" use the word you are referring to (I am bad at this and go back and fix my posts all the time).

7) Use commas to break sentences like you would talk more than the strict grammatical rules for commas. It's simpler to read.

8) Use bold to highlight bullets or topics you may label your paragraphs or ideas with. This helps readability and helps to find particular  ideas someone may remember and want to find later.

Maybe when a comprehensive set of guidelines is complete this could be in a section for people new to the forum or even new to the internet to look over. These are NOT rules that must be followed, but I think it will make a better quality forum, especially when using search to find ideas later. This list is not for English or grammatical errors, but making the posts more readable. I am sure any English teacher would have a field day reading internet posts. The point is to make the IDEAS more easily ascertained from the posts by formatting, not to correct people's writing skills.

Nickao

Lets add to the list guys. Maybe there should be a list for formatting and a separate list for the common grammatical errors that bother some people.