Hit 'Enter' Key to make Paragraphs! (Then I can read your allnurses posts!)

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

You know what I'd like to see here at allnurses? I'd love to see a campaign to encourage paragraph usage in posts. I was reading at another forum a thread started by forum host declaring "The first annual paragraph day" of the forum. It had specific intructions as well as rationale!

So, to recap, hit the enter key to make a space between paragraphs to separate your posts into readable parts. When a post all runs together, it's hard to read. Don't indent to make a paragraph, it won't work on this format. If you don't know when to make a new paragraph, make one anyway every 5 or 6 sentences!!

[Katnip, RN]

I do agree. If I see a long post that has no break, I tend not to read it because it really is difficult to follow.

[Diary/Dairy, RN]

Me too!

When is Annual Paragraph Day?? :balloons:

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I don't read them, rither. I also avoid badly punctuated and capitalized posts simply because they are difficult to read.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

Ditto what everyone has said.

Add to that, the posts that look like this

I Went To The Second Floor And Asked The Person At The Desk Why I Was And She Said That The Doctor On Call Wanted Me There And ..

get the idea. WHY capitolize the first letter of every word?

Run on sentences, bad puncuation, caps for the first letter of every word, no paragraphs all drive me crazy.

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

Here's another tip: If you make a post and you see that some words have turned into asterisks, that's a word you should probably go back and change. There are lots of ways to make your point without profanity. A word to the wise.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

There are some computers (especially those at workplaces) that are programmed to not make paragraphs and also, capitalize every first letter of a word in a sentence.

Sometimes, this is not the fault of the member typing a post.

But, if one is able to do so, paragraph breaks make reading so much easier.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

For those who can't change the first letter of every word is a cap, I apologize.

For those who can control it, please, don't cap the first letter of every word. Its very hard to read when its like that.

[RachieH]

Thanks for bringing this up - correct language usage is a HUGE pet peeve of mine.

Coming out of lurkerdom to say...I have been a little surprised at some of the atrocious grammar and spelling skills from time to time here at allnurses. Those are skills that ought to be paramount in nursing; after all, communication is a huge part of a nurse's job. I am also a firm believer that if one wants to be taken seriously in the workplace, one ought to pay careful attention to the way one communicates and this includes writing.

For those who will say "but I come online to relax and don't want to worry about my writing skills!" I say to you...read the original poster's post. She won't read your posts if they are a huge run-on paragraph. In addition, good writing skills should be a habit - not something that goes out the window once you're off work. And for those who say "But I have x amount of kids, am always busy and don't have time to proof-read my posts!"...I have a three month old son and I'm busy too. But I always take time to proof posts. It's all in perception and perception is everything if you're being considered for a promotion, or special projects, or a leadership position.

Food for thought.

[showbizrn]

[mouse]Thank You![/mouse]

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

[mouse]Thank You![/mouse]

Thank you, thank you. I must agree.

I avoid posts which aren't broken down into readable chunks. Just makes me dizzy to try to read a page of nonstop writing.

So yes.. why spend all that time writing/typing what you want us to know if most ppl won't read it because it's too difficult to follow?

So it's really to your benefit. :)

[cmo421]

I try to do the best I can when typing here, or anywhere. I also try and proof read. But, I am not very maticulous all the time. Like most nurses and people today, I seem always to be in a hurry. I notice that I am improving over time.

Now that I know that there are rules to follow to get something read, I will be more careful. Maybe a pre-req. to joining this site, should be a few years of typing, grammer, and of course English and writing. All nurses brings in people of ALL levels, backrounds and areas of the world. Maybe it should restrict it's members , so that not to offend anyone.

Just my two cents ! Merry Christmas All and may yours Holidays be safe and tolerant of others !