Are dots the new questions mark

[jiminski]

well....

[Iliad]

Is that your question. Do I think so. Do you. Will you think about that.

[kingprawn]

No...

[borox0]

WTF...

[Sentinel XIV]

I'm appalled that you would ask?

[Neoteny]

Wikipedia is your friend. Ellipses, sir...

[InkL0sed]

Wikipedia is not your friend. Quoting is.

[jonesthecurl]

Dots mean that I'm thinking about it...
Does that answer your question?

[MeDeFe]

no?...

[DaGip]

spam...

[Dancing Mustard]

Good observation Jim.

Now I can see it, that's going to annoy the hell out of me for the next couple of weeks.

[yeti_c]

well....

I think that they imply more of a rhetorical question?

C.

[jiminski]

i think dots have just become a panacea for all punctuational confusion.... they now offer context to develop within the mind of the reader... instead of it being mapped out by the writer... They can serve as... colon...semicolon.. comma.. where needed.. and i think... a question mark... perhaps the only place they do not work is for exclamation...

[MeDeFe]

i think dots have just become a panacea for all punctuational confusion.... they now offer context to develop within the mind of the reader... instead of it being mapped out by the writer... They can serve as... colon...semicolon.. comma.. where needed.. and i think... a question mark... perhaps the only place they do not work is for exclamation...

...

[Neoteny]

Meh...

[InkL0sed]

Technically, ellipses are supposed to imply that something has been left out. However, you are right that they are often used rather liberally, to express a range of things. On these forums, it is often difficult to convey tone -- strategically placed ellipses can help overcome that difficulty.

They can express uncertainty, or hesitation (I think...?)
They can even express a trailing-off kind of tone, occasionally...

I can't think of many other uses for them of which I as a Grammar Nazi would approve. For example, the question mark use is better conveyed with an additional question mark. That normally conveys a trailing off, but also with the raise in tone associated with a question.

[Neoteny]

Technically, ellipses are supposed to imply that something has been left out. However, you are right that they are often used rather liberally, to express a range of things. On these forums, it is often difficult to convey tone -- strategically placed ellipses can help overcome that difficulty.

They can express uncertainty, or hesitation (I think...?)
They can even express a trailing-off kind of tone, occasionally...

I can't think of many other uses for them of which I as a Grammar Nazi would approve. For example, the question mark use is better conveyed with an additional question mark. That normally conveys a trailing off, but also with the raise in tone associated with a question.

I agree with most of that. The one thing that I disagree with is your second question mark. I don't think it implies hesitation so much as a more aggressive attitude.

"What the hell??"

"What the hell..."

The first is perhaps surprised, or just overeager. The second is trailing off, perhaps resigned. My ellipses tend to be of the trailing off sort.

[InkL0sed]

Technically, ellipses are supposed to imply that something has been left out. However, you are right that they are often used rather liberally, to express a range of things. On these forums, it is often difficult to convey tone -- strategically placed ellipses can help overcome that difficulty.

They can express uncertainty, or hesitation (I think...?)
They can even express a trailing-off kind of tone, occasionally...

I can't think of many other uses for them of which I as a Grammar Nazi would approve. For example, the question mark use is better conveyed with an additional question mark. That normally conveys a trailing off, but also with the raise in tone associated with a question.

I agree with most of that. The one thing that I disagree with is your second question mark. I don't think it implies hesitation so much as a more aggressive attitude.

"What the hell??"

"What the hell..."

The first is perhaps surprised, or just overeager. The second is trailing off, perhaps resigned. My ellipses tend to be of the trailing off sort.

Right -- I'm just saying that when used as a trailing-off kind of question, I prefer, and generally use, a question mark along with an ellipse.

So I would write "What the hell...?" to convey the same thing.

[jiminski]

Technically, ellipses are supposed to imply that something has been left out. However, you are right that they are often used rather liberally, to express a range of things. On these forums, it is often difficult to convey tone -- strategically placed ellipses can help overcome that difficulty.

They can express uncertainty, or hesitation (I think...?)
They can even express a trailing-off kind of tone, occasionally...

I can't think of many other uses for them of which I as a Grammar Nazi would approve. For example, the question mark use is better conveyed with an additional question mark. That normally conveys a trailing off, but also with the raise in tone associated with a question.

I agree with most of that. The one thing that I disagree with is your second question mark. I don't think it implies hesitation so much as a more aggressive attitude.

"What the hell??"

"What the hell..."

The first is perhaps surprised, or just overeager. The second is trailing off, perhaps resigned. My ellipses tend to be of the trailing off sort.

Right -- I'm just saying that when used as a trailing-off kind of question, I prefer, and generally use, a question mark along with an ellipse.

So I would write "What the hell...?" to convey the same thing.

agreed, i think dots only truly work if they are incorporated with some punctuation... but it implies thought... it gives some kind of allusion to the chronology of the writers thought process... and its 'punctuation' with the pause for inspiration!

As such it evokes a more personalised, chatting style of written communication which is truer to vocalisation.. a vocalisation which can not easily follow strict rules of literary grammar but which speak within the mind of the peruser.....


As to the tone/meaning of the dots... well they become what the words make them!

Or do they...

[InkL0sed]

Hmm...

[DaGip]

i think dots have just become a panacea for all punctuational confusion.... they now offer context to develop within the mind of the reader... instead of it being mapped out by the writer... They can serve as... colon...semicolon.. comma.. where needed.. and i think... a question mark... perhaps the only place they do not work is for exclamation...

I use...three little dots...for longer than normal pauses...or areas in which the reader should pause...and...think...never...ever...ever...do...I...use...it...for...a...question...mark...

[william18]

I think the dots can mean that your repleying to an akward post.

Akward post: " My dog is eating me"

My post: " Yeah......"

[DaGip]

I think the dots can mean that your repleying to an akward post.

Akward post: " My dog is eating me"

My post: " Yeah......"

Hey...you...are...using...six...little...dots...and...not...three...

[william18]

I think the dots can mean that your repleying to an akward post.

Akward post: " My dog is eating me"

My post: " Yeah......"

Hey...you...are...using...six...little...dots...and...not...three...

Hmm, I prefer only using five.

[jiminski]

I think the dots can mean that your repleying to an akward post.

Akward post: " My dog is eating me"

My post: " Yeah......"

Hey...you...are...using...six...little...dots...and...not...three...

Hmm, I prefer only using five.

It's a good point; the number of dots also imply nuance.............. and can even convey sarcasm. or irony.....