• Boxscape
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    803 days ago

    if so then name your thing

    Sort of I guess: em dashes.

    Not to talk about, but to use when writing.
    Now they are apparently the hallmark of AI-generated crap.

    • @[email protected]
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      72 days ago

      I just got into them and I’ll be damned if I’ll let some toaster ruin a perfectly beautiful bit of punctuation

    • @[email protected]
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      113 days ago

      I’ve never been called out as AI for using them; but if I ever am, I have the strategy of knowing the alt code for them (0151). I even know the shortcut in word to insert one — pressing alt-X with your cursor at the end of “2014”. I also have a vscode macro set up that is just an emdash, just in case I’m in a situation where there’s not a way I know to insert one.

      • @[email protected]
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        3 days ago

        Alt-codes are for nerds

        - 60% gang

        I really think more text formatting should do as mobile devices do and just auto convert two hyphens into an em dash. Make it simple, i beg.

        • @[email protected]
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          14 hours ago

          Hard disagree. My text is my text and I want it how I typed it. I hate how I constantly have to disable auto bullshit on every device and in every program and half the time these days there isn’t even a setting for that anymore.

          If I type two hyphens, it’s because I wanted two hyphens.

          Similarly, emoticons being converted to emojis without my consent also annoys me.

        • @[email protected]
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          73 days ago

          Two hyphens are an en-dash. Try 3 for em. Filthy casuals!

          (Obvious /s but yea don’t mean to insult.)

          • RavingGrob
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            12 days ago

            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compose_key

            I set my caps lock key to the Compose Key (ck), and it changed the game for me:

            • — is ck then “—”
            • é is ck then “e” followed by ’
            • ° is ck then double “o”
            • ½ is ck then “1” followed by “2”

            I’m sure there’s many more combinations, but honestly, I never intentionally used CAPS LOCK for anything.

    • @[email protected]
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      143 days ago

      Same. I learned this was a thing just the other day.

      I don’t use them often but do find them nicer for parenthetical remarks sometimes.