# Everything Is Older Than You Think It is, Emoticon Dept

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-is-older-than-you-think-it-is-emoticon-dept/967369>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [July 4, 2022, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-is-older-than-you-think-it-is-emoticon-dept/967369 "2022-07-04T01:41:32Z")\
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**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2022, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-is-older-than-you-think-it-is-emoticon-dept/967369/1 "2022-07-04T01:41:32Z")

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From the September 16, 1936 _Harvard Lampoon_, “Sentiment Simplified,” by Alan Gregg.

> Why not, instead of more or less ignoring punctuation as heretofore, make it of some real importance; make it the skeleton of a new and more fluent language?
> 
> For instance:
> 
> Let \* be a new punctuation mark meaning a wink and % for the first time betoken head on one side, one eye over the other, an expression of intense interest, attention, and incredulity and ( - ) be a smile and ( — ) be a laugh … more teeth showing and # a frown.
> 
> [Example]
> 
> Dear Gwendolynne,
> 
> You are probably working so hard for exams that you wont [sic] be able to get away for the Yale game. ( \* ) Has anyone else asked you? ( # ) I hope you can come ( - )
> 
> Yours (% —)
> 
> Of the ultimate success of this new era in self-expression we have no doubt.