I hear that it annoys some of you guys. Why do I format my posts with breaks between sentences or short paragraphs?

It's quite simple; bite-sized chunks are easier to read. Ever see those wall o' text posts? It's pretty easy to lose your place in such posts, isn't it?

Here's an example: https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...0601935/m/5630046484

Remove the breaks and you'll get the idea. I'm sorry if this style aggravates the OCD of some of you guys, but, I just want my posts to be clear. Also, you will see me use italics and bolded text, not just for literary emphasis, but to make words stand out on the page.

BTW, I know some of you guys subscribe to my posts and I must look like a yutz when you get the notification, because I am a horrible typist. I will bang out the post and only after it's up will I edit my typing errors.


Here, let's see- unedited:

The quic bron fox jumped over the lazy dog

She sels seashells by te sashore

Am I fonna have to choke a citch?

Bytter late thanever

I woud like to feed your fingertips to th wolverines

You'e barking up teh wrongtee


You get the idea. My typing sucks

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
I hear that it annoys some of you guys. Why do I format my posts with breaks between sentences or short paragraphs?

It seems reasonable to me, but then my Mom taught English for a number of years. I appreciate good diction.

Years ago, my Chief of Police (recently passed away to her second bout of covid) would red pen my reports.

Finally, she sat me down.

"Aaron, DA's are dumb. They have the attention span of a crack addict. Three to five sentences per paragraph max."

Over the years I have learned that DA's are not the only ones who prefer concise paragraphs. It is, to say the honest truth, much easier to read.

quote:

Originally posted by fritz:
I appreciate good diction.

I got one o' them.

Frankly, I've never thought about it. Your posts are always easy to read (but not always easy to obey).

I am a naturally verbose person, so I have to concentrate on keeping my paragraphs short.

flashguy

It looks professional.


We have new rookies that are college graduates and they cannot write a damn. I do not know how they passed high school (unless they’re from Oregon).

Granted we have one guy that’s ready to retire and his reports are one long paragraph with semicolons interspersed throughout with one period at the end.

When I type, I still do the double space after a period. My phone fixes it but our report writing system does not so I get the weird looks from people reading my reports. But at least they can read it and it tells a story from beginning to end.

I just testified two weeks ago at a murder trial and my supplemental report was two pages of coherent story and the younger reporting officer’s report consisted of three paragraphs.

Funny about editing my posts. I can’t seem to find all that needs editing until after I post and read. It’s weird……like Bobcat Goldthwaite weird.

I like it...

Don't change...

(like you would ;-)

Para...my old eyes thank you much sir

Clear and concise.

Perfect!

I do the same thing, for the same reasons.

Yup, always been doing the same.
It goes way by to my Corporate memo-writing days.

Back in AOL chat room days my user name was TittyShypist.

I do the same thing so it's easy to read...

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
I hear that it annoys some of you guys. Why do I format my posts with breaks between sentences or short paragraphs?

It's quite simple; bite-sized chunks are easier to read.
...
Also, you will see me use italics and [b]bolded[/u] text, not just for literary emphasis, but to make words stand out on the page.

I do the same, and for the same reasons. Underline, too, when forum software supports it. Sometimes, though very rarely, even caps.

I also endeavor to correct speling erors.

I find your posts eminently readable, boss.

I don't type quite as badly as do you, however

quote:

Originally posted by Chowser:
When I type, I still do the double space after a period.

They’ll have to pry the double space from my cold dead hand. Same holds true for Courier 12.

I also do it this way, for the same reasons.

Also, I believe I've got a decent enough command of English, spelling, and punctuation to take a little creative license.

quote:

Originally posted by sigalert:

quote:

Originally posted by Chowser:
When I type, I still do the double space after a period.

They’ll have to pry the double space from my cold dead hand. Same holds true for Courier 12.

The forum's software edits it out.

I still double-space after the period. Old habits, and all.

quote:

Originally posted by DSgrouse:
Years ago, my Chief of Police (recently passed away to her second bout of covid) would red pen my reports.

Finally, she sat me down.

"Aaron, DA's are dumb. They have the attention span of a crack addict. Three to five sentences per paragraph max."

Over the years I have learned that DA's are not the only ones who prefer concise paragraphs. It is, to say the honest truth, much easier to read.

I have no doubt that some DA's are dumb. But, the smarter among them will prefer concise writing both from you and when they themselves write.

I will also note that there is a certain variety of cop who likes - no, loves - officialese and long, run-on sentences. I never know why they talk and write as they do. I have asked some, and the best I can figure is that they think it sounds more official and authoritative.

They figure they should say, "At that that point in time, the male suspect exited the motor vehicle and attempted to egress the scene rapidly on foot in a westerly direction on Main Street," when "The suspect got out of the car and attempted to escape by running west on Main" is so much better.

Thread drift.

I’ve thought Para would make an excellent educator. Film studies (noir) comes to mind first. He strikes me as someone who loves the form, in spite it’s slide into mediocrity in recent decades.

The same can be said for journalism.