# Bolded user names v @ names

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolded-user-names-v-names/937292>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [March 5, 2021, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolded-user-names-v-names/937292 "2021-03-05T20:22:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 19

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**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2021, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolded-user-names-v-names/937292/19 "2021-03-06T16:25:49Z")

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@ if I want to call the person’s attention to the fact that they’re being talked about; bolding if I don’t.

Example: In this thread, the OP probably should have @'ed Spice\_Weasel rather than bolding her so she would have known she was being talked about:

> [@Happy birthday, Horatio and Spicy!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-birthday-horatio-and-spicy/937194):
>
> Today, March 4, marks the birthday of two of our more prolific and popular members, Spice\_Weasel and Horatio\_Hellpop. Happy birthday to you both and please enjoy some cake on me. birthday birthday

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