# i am a lazy typer... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 17, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870 "2011-10-17T01:31:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/21 "2011-10-17T02:34:32Z")
The ellipsis…makes you sound…like you’re constantly gasping for breath…or whining…or some unbelievably annoying combination of the two. Have some confidence in your own goddamn writing. Space your words proudly! ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/22 "2011-10-17T02:35:51Z")
> [@\_Olive](#): > > mahalo~ We also speak English around here, but I guess you don’t have to do that, either. _Special_. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/23 "2011-10-17T02:39:37Z")
> [@\_Olive](#): > > mahalo~ I was being facetious in post 12. ---
**Author:** ![Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prelude_to_Fascination)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/24 "2011-10-17T02:43:39Z")
I say don’t let it bother you. Some people here can be pretty harsh as far as grammar goes, but that’s their problem. It’s much more important you get your idea across than use perfect grammar and spelling. Many people here seem to post from their phones or other imobile things, and the misspellings abound. By comparison, using ellipses isn’t nearly as bad, in my book. Speaking for myself, if I can understand what you’re trying to say, it doesn’t matter to me whether you use ellipses or commas. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/25 "2011-10-17T02:44:20Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > We also speak English around here, but I guess you don’t have to do that, either. _Special_. the ignore list is just one or two clicks away if it bothers you that badly. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/26 "2011-10-17T02:46:24Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > We also speak English around here, but I guess you don’t have to do that, either. _Special_. What the fuck crawled up your ass and died? I don’t know for sure, but I’m guessing she’s from Hawaii - her first thread was titled “Aloha,” IIRC. So she drops a “mahalo” in here or there. So fucking what? If a Japanese person wants to drop in a “konichiwa” (however it’s spelled), or a Jewish person, “shalom,” or a Spaniard, “hola,” who gives a damn? Joe ---
**Author:** ![\_Olive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/4af34b/32.png) [@\_Olive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Olive)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/27 "2011-10-17T02:53:26Z")
thanks joe …that made me laugh …maybe i should start cussing now too …heheeeeeeeeeee ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/28 "2011-10-17T02:53:59Z")
We’re in MPSIMS, **wheresgeorge04** , so you might want to calm down a little. If you’re that upset with another poster, take it to the Pit. **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/29 "2011-10-17T02:54:30Z")
I use ellipsis when I type. I don’t use them to separate every sentence, but I use it as a transition between sentences that are closely linked together, or to separate a dependent clause. No one has complained to me about it here…yet. -D/a ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/30 "2011-10-17T03:01:27Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > We’re in MPSIMS, **wheresgeorge04** , so you might want to calm down a little. If you’re that upset with another poster, take it to the Pit. > > **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator Sorry. Joe ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/31 "2011-10-17T03:01:40Z")
Ellipses actually do convey something on writing. It’s not just a cool way to separate words. I have 2 clients that are addicted to ellipses. They write some ad copy and always add ellipses. Their ads look really unprofessional. The worst tho is when they reply to an email with “Thanks…” it totally reads like they are saying “thanks but you didn’t help me at all and I am still confused.” it’s awful and I hate it every time they do it (every email). It’s not cute it’s rude. So think twice about how your ellipses make your words come across. They may change the tone sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/32 "2011-10-17T03:03:31Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > The worst tho is when they reply to an email with “Thanks…” it totally reads like they are saying “thanks but you didn’t help me at all and I am still confused.” I agree. If I saw “Thanks…” in an email, I’d be waiting for the “… for nothing, asshole” shoe to drop on the other side of the ellipses. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/33 "2011-10-17T03:06:21Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > \ > > The worst tho is when they reply to an email with “Thanks…” it totally reads like they are saying “thanks but you didn’t help me at all and I am still confused.” it’s awful and I hate it every time they do it (every email).\. I don’t think someone who uses “tho” instead of “though” is in much of a position to criticize someone else’s writing. 🙂 **Olive** , if you make an effort to type and write correctly here, you will become a better writer and typer, if that’s important to you. As for ellipses, I don’t care for them. They indicate an unfinished thought. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/34 "2011-10-17T03:16:34Z")
Unless you have OCD which requires you to hit periods three times every time, just hit it once. Like this: . You’re actually expending more effort but come off as less worthy of attention. I mean, even if you don’t use capital letters or perfect spelling, your writing would be substantially cleaner and easier to read with single dots instead of triple dots. Like so: > [@](#): > > i have been feeling a little out of place here because i notice everyone seems to have perfect type. i use ellipsis. i know that bothers some people. as i have been told many times. oh well. i guess some of you won’t mind while others will. I also read it as you gasping for breath or being wishy-washy. You don’t “have” to change, but don’t expect people to pay a lot of attention to your posts if you won’t. I mean, if you’re actually a “lazy typer” then you should jump at the chance to only press one period instead of hitting it three times. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/35 "2011-10-17T03:27:19Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I don’t think someone who uses “tho” instead of “though” is in much of a position to criticize someone else’s writing. 🙂 I’m not criticizing anything, just cautioning her that ellipses can change the tone of a post. I know the favorite game of the SDMB is “point out Guadere’s Law” but this ain’t it. ---
**Author:** ![emcee2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emcee2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emcee2k)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/36 "2011-10-17T03:32:26Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > If she doesn’t want to, she doesn’t really have to and if that means you can’t read her posts, then that’s a loss she’ll just have to live with. (And if her posts are unreadable to you, then that says more about your reading ability than her writing ability.) I can read her posts, but they are hard to read, since there’s an unnecessary pause every four or five words. I don’t have anything against people who legitimately have issues with spelling and grammar. Mine is far from perfect. A couple of swapped vowels, a run on sentence, or the wrong “there” isn’t very distracting, and is unintentional. This is different. Ellipses every few words is distracting. It’s intentional and she clearly know that it’s not correct and it annoys people. It’s not even an issue of being lazy, since she’s putting in the extra effort into pressing the period key three times. No obviously, she doesn’t have to stop doing it. Also, I don’t have to stop saying that it’s annoying and you don’t have to stop saying that she doesn’t have to stop doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/37 "2011-10-17T03:34:28Z")
Olive, it’s a free country, you’re not be graded, and the board rules don’t cover capitalization, grammar, punctuation, and spelling. If you wish to type in your own style, you can do so. But as you’ve observed, the common practice here is for people to do these things correctly. If you choose not to, people will notice and some will take a negative impression from your choice. ---
**Author:** ![\_Olive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/4af34b/32.png) [@\_Olive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Olive)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/38 "2011-10-17T03:36:38Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Olive, it’s a free country, you’re not be graded, and the board rules don’t cover capitalization, grammar, punctuation, and spelling. If you wish to type in your own style, you can do so. > > But as you’ve observed, the common practice here is for people to do these things correctly. If you choose not to, people will notice and some will take a negative impression from your choice. i realize that little nemo …thanks for your suggestion… ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/39 "2011-10-17T03:36:56Z")
I just figured you didn’t know which punctuation to use where, and the ellipses took care of that; it’s lazy writing rather than lazy typing. I try not to get hung up on “proper” use of language when I’m reading posts, but when I see posts full of ellipses I’m less likely to read those threads. I enjoy a well-crafted post, even if it’s expressing thoughts I disagree with. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/40 "2011-10-17T03:49:12Z")
> [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](#): > > I say don’t let it bother you. Some people here can be pretty harsh as far as grammar goes, but that’s their problem. It’s much more important you get your idea across than use perfect grammar and spelling. Many people here seem to post from their phones or other imobile things, and the misspellings abound. By comparison, using ellipses isn’t nearly as bad, in my book. > > Speaking for myself, if I can understand what you’re trying to say, it doesn’t matter to me whether you use ellipses or commas. I agree with **Prelude**. **~Olive~** , I have no trouble reading your posts and didn’t notice anything until you pointed it out. As long as you feel comfortable typing that way, who gives a crap? I don’t think it’s necessary to drive you away or tell you that you might be comfortable on another message board. At least it’s better than text speak. If we were all conformists here or all marched in lock-step, it would be a mighty boring message board. I think many of us are drawn here because we’re non-conformists. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870.md?page=3)