Genealogy Chat

I don't mean to be rude, but was just wondering why some people choose to write their messages all in capitals? I've noticed quite a few messages like it recently and I just find them really difficult to read.... capitals are for the start of sentences/names etc and also maybe for emphasising certain words (especially useful for names on genealogy sites) but i find writing a whole message in them is a bit like shouting! Any ideas? Laura PS - and no offence meant! I'm just wondering!

Some people simply forget to remove caps lock, but there are a couple - at least - of visually impaired members who can only see their own messages if they use capitals. There are also those who just don't realise............ Reg

I never thought about the visually impaired side of it, I guess that could be a reason! Thanks Reg, Laura x

LOL, Laura - I love a pedant, just like me :-)) I sometimes suspect they don't know how to turn the caps lock off!! But the little box to write in is so small it must be difficult if you have poor sight. Anne

Pedant? Moi? lol I'm awful. Have you read the book Eats Shoots and Leaves? Oh it's excellent. I think part of it is my being a teacher, but little things like apostrophes get me too. Mind you, then I have half a bottle of wine, find something new and post on here and you can't even understand what I've written, so I guess I'm a bit of a hypocritical pedant!!! Laura x

Oh don't get me started on apostrophes, LOL!!! Another thing that gets me is how some people don't seem to read back through what they have written before they press the send button. For me its essential as I'm always hitting the wrong keys - I type fast but very badly!! I'm not talking about spelling here (I know that can be hard for some) but its the obvious typos even in the title that annoy me. Oooops! I'll get back in my hole now! Must get that book, I'm always seeing it recommended. Anne

A message in capitals IS SHOUTING!!! These often contain no full stops or paragraphs as well and are therefore doubly hard to read. Whilst there may be the odd visually impaired user who can't change the screen resolution on their PC, it strikes me as just laziness for the majority. As a pedant I can't help screaming when people don't know the difference between 'there' and 'their' as well.

What about 'a hotel' or 'an hotel' , or ' an historic ' as used by BBC news readers ? Apostrophes get me sometimes. In handwriting block capitals is better than unreadable scrawl, but not in type. Bob

In a recent teacher's magazine (the TES) there was another mag with an article which in the heading had 'an' followed by hero..... ARGH! I notice the Americans do this a lot and it winds me up. We only use an when followed by a vowel! grrr. their/there - another one Oh dear, this certainly is a thread for the pedants, I may even change the title! lol

*pedant arrives on thread* It depends whether the 'h' is silent in pronunciation or not. The Oxford Dictionary gives either for the pronunciation of the word hotel - hotel or otel. So in speech, you should either say 'A hotel' or 'An otel' - both are correct. An Hotel is incorrect! OC

what about 'of' as in - must of had a cold... could of done better ....(saw that on a school report) would of been .... will of done.... etc etc etc instead of 'have' grouse over, and so I must go to 'of' a cup of coffee lol

One which makes me seethe is when people use 'less' instead of 'fewer'. 'There were less people there today than yesterday'..........so had they all lost weight overnight? Reg

I've noticed just lately that many people will write 'loose' instead of 'lose'. That one really bugs me! ;-) Cheers, Horatia

And how about those.........on here........who put 'farther' for the male parent!! Reg

Sorry Paul Webber... But Capitals doesn't neccessarily mean someone is SHOUTING. There is at least one person on these boards who posts in Capitals because she is sight impaired and many members post their replies, to her, in Capitals because they are aware of that. Yes the responses to her look a bit strange......Some capitals, some normal case ........But everyone is interacting.....And when someone makes the odd comment about 'shouting' it is very easily sorted out. Chris

I made the point, in my first response, about visually impaired GR members.......... Reg

Reggie Sorry if you thought I was 'having a go' at you.....Never intended :) Paul Re thinking my posting to you I realise it may have looked as as I may also have been 'having a go at you'......All I was trying to point out is that sometimes there are reasons WHY someone posts as they do. Apologies to both of you but I hope you both understand where I was coming from :) Chris

Chris The thought never crossed my mind.......... Reg

Well, this pedant has just been forced to throw a cushion at the TV. Looking at Family Tree on Channel 4, two different posters have written 'Were there any siblings of this marriage?' NO - there weren't - your siblings are your brothers and sisters, NOT your children! OC

Reggie Thanks for that.... I can sleep tonight knowing I haven't mistakenly (sp?) upsept someone....As nice as you :))) Chris