# People who think using the ligature "æ" makes them look smart are wankers **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 21, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219 "2008-03-21T14:10:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219/41 "2008-03-21T17:21:24Z")
Isn’t this pitting offensive to the lovers of fables everywhere? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219/42 "2008-03-21T17:21:55Z")
[QUOTE=Starving Artist] For some reason (and for some reason ALT 0230 does nothin’ for me), when someone from Brooklyn uses the word “wanker” to refer to someone else, it makes them look like a, well, wanker. 😉 [/QUOTE] It’s OK. I grew up in Larchmont. ---
**Author:** ![ignis\_glaciesque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@ignis\_glaciesque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ignis_glaciesque)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219/43 "2008-03-21T17:44:01Z")
Spæm, spæm, SPÆM, spæm, spæm, SPÆM, spæm, spæm! ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219/44 "2008-03-21T18:08:52Z")
If I use “æ” to make me look like a wanker, does that make me smart? Does anyone besides me think of a ligature primarily as something used to fasten a reed to a clarinet or saxophone mouthpiece? To the OP: does “œ” bother you as well? Amœba. So much better than “amoeba” or the inexcusably vile “ameba.” ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219/45 "2008-03-21T18:12:50Z")
What about ümlauts? My real name has three u’s, and festooning it with umlauts makes me look like one of those cool heavy metal guys. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219/46 "2008-03-21T18:26:25Z")
[QUOTE=Bayard] What about ümlauts? My real name has three u’s, and festooning it with umlauts makes me look like one of those cool heavy metal guys. [/QUOTE] Festooning with Umlauts Band Name! ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219/47 "2008-03-21T18:27:54Z")
[QUOTE=ignis\_glaciesque] Spæm, spæm, SPÆM, spæm, spæm, SPÆM, spæm, spæm! [/QUOTE] Now if I could only find an online “English to Viking” translator, I could expand on that! ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219/48 "2008-03-21T18:38:37Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] You are a wanker for giving your son a stupid name. [/QUOTE] Meh, could be worse, he could be named **friedo** – what is that, a dyke frieda? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219/49 "2008-03-21T18:54:30Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] It’s OK. I grew up in Larchmont. [/QUOTE] I suspected as much. No true Brooklynite would dare go around using a word like wanker. 😉 > [@Knorf](#): > > Does anyone besides me think of a ligature primarily as something used to fasten a reed to a clarinet or saxophone mouthpiece? Makes me think of a tourniquet of sorts or perhaps a strangulation device. Had to check to make sure the OP wasn’t a wanker for using it the way he did. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219/50 "2008-03-21T18:55:26Z")
˙sɹǝʇɔɐɹɐɥɔ lɐıɔǝds ǝɹnɔsqo ɹnoʎ ɥʇıʍ 'sɹǝʞuɐʍ snoıʇuǝʇǝɹd ɟo ɥɔunq ɐ ʇsnɾ llɐ ǝɹ,noʎ ---
**Author:** ![hopesperson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@hopesperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hopesperson)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219/51 "2008-03-21T19:18:04Z")
[QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil] Isn’t this pitting offensive to the lovers of fables everywhere? 😉 [/QUOTE] Nobody loves fæbls (other than wankers). ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219/52 "2008-03-21T19:20:48Z")
Not to be one of those “my computer is better” wankers, but this is one thing I love on the Macintosh - the extra modifier key (option key). It makes typing in special characters so much easier. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219/53 "2008-03-21T19:30:10Z")
[QUOTE=Arnold Winkelried] Not to be one of those “my computer is better” wankers, but this is one thing I love on the Macintosh - the extra modifier key (option key). It makes typing in special characters so much easier. [/QUOTE] It’s not really “extra” - PC people call it ‘Alt’. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219/54 "2008-03-21T19:53:05Z")
‘Alt’ don’t do chit on this Dell PC keyboard of mine. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219/55 "2008-03-21T20:04:25Z")
[QUOTE=Starving Artist] ‘Alt’ don’t do chit on this Dell PC keyboard of mine. :smack: [/QUOTE] Really? Do me a favor at press ALT then F then X. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219/56 "2008-03-21T20:05:31Z")
[QUOTE=Starving Artist] ‘Alt’ don’t do chit on this Dell PC keyboard of mine. :smack: [/QUOTE] Laptop or full keyboard? On a laptop like the Dell I am typing on currently, you need to hold done the Fn key and the Alt Key with one hand and then use the Blue Number faux pad where 7=7 8=8 9=9 u=4 i=5 o=6 j=1 k=2 l=3 m=0. If you are on a Dell Laptop the numbers are printed on the keyboard in blue. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219/57 "2008-03-21T20:21:02Z")
Eh, the other day I was running spell check on a chapter ms., and for some reason all the fl’s and fi’s were ligatures (and thus rang the spell checker’s bell). I had to remove them all. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Sweetums](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Sweetums](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweetums)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219/58 "2008-03-21T20:22:35Z")
Hey, thanks to the thread I know how to do an Æ on my keyboard. Thanks, I was wondering. ---
**Author:** ![JR\_Brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JR\_Brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JR_Brown)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219/59 "2008-03-21T20:22:52Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] ?s??? l???ds ??n?sqo ?no? ??? 's???u?? sno??u???d ?o ??unq ? ?sn? ll? ??,no? [/QUOTE] :eek: : prostrates self in presence of greatness : 😃 JRB How do you do this stuff using Macs? When I use the “special characters menu” or option-key, it inserts the right symbol, but on preview they just turn into question marks… ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219/60 "2008-03-21T20:26:52Z")
[QUOTE=Tastes of Chocolate] Are you me? Because those are the same 3 I have memorized. Admit it, you work with capacitors all day. [/QUOTE] Sorry, Sparky, I’m a gear head. While I’m sure that there are loads of capacitors in the machinery that I use, I haven’t actually worked with one directly since undergrad. Plus, I have never liked the taste of chocolate. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-think-using-the-ligature-ae-makes-them-look-smart-are-wankers/442219.md?page=4)