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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I can't help it... The lack of understanding from people about how to use dot, dot, dot, is frustrating and annoying!

108 replies

wildhairrunning · 29/09/2011 14:02

Why oh why are there so few people out there who use the 'points of elipsis' rule correctly? When you use dot, dot, dot, (...) it is THREE and only three dots, not however many you feel like putting

Like this... Then begin a new sentence with a space
Or...like this (for use in a sentence

Please people, use your dots correctly, it's driving me mad!

Aibu?! Wink

OP posts:
bringmesunshine2009 · 29/09/2011 20:41

My Algerian friends and family put 3 commas instead of points. This makes me teeth itch,,,

KittyFane · 29/09/2011 21:07

Well.......I like using dots OP! :o
I had never heard about the dot.....err, rule before.......!

KittyFane · 29/09/2011 21:10

Ooh [http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellipsis Ellipsis!!]
Why was I never taught this at school?!!

KittyFane · 29/09/2011 21:11

Ooh Ellipsis!!
Why was I never taught this at school?!!

Oakmaiden · 29/09/2011 21:19

Although I think you will find it is often considered good practice to follow ellipsis which occur at the end of a sentence with a period. For example:

"It doesn't matter... I cannot help it...."

So 4 dots is sometimes correct.

wildhairrunning · 29/09/2011 23:18

Three dots! Dammit! Three! No spaces between the dots!

Aghh!

Grin
OP posts:
valiumredhead · 29/09/2011 23:26

I love dots.... mid sentence or on the end... I like them very much.

I couldn't give a tiny rat's ass whether its correct or not...........................

YANBU for it to annoy you.... but YABU to tell me how to use my OWN . on MY keyboard..

Me too!!!!!!!! I love dots as much as I love exclamation marks...................

Quidsi · 29/09/2011 23:28

OK I'm being thick. Can someone please explain to me why only 3 dots are allowed? Explain to me the rule please.

valiumredhead · 29/09/2011 23:30

Quidsi I can't remember and quite frankly don't care.............................................

I imagine it's to stop people like me getting carried away..................

Wink
VelvetSnow · 29/09/2011 23:30

oh for fucks sake...

valiumredhead · 29/09/2011 23:32

.............................................................................

Quidsi · 29/09/2011 23:35

Valium in which case may I .......................... ............. .................... ....................................... ............................................................................................................................. ah that feels better.
I need to know the reason behind the rule, or the rule, or at least the history behind the rule before I can decide if it is BU or not Grin

garlicslutty · 29/09/2011 23:35

Messsage deleted by ..................

manic · 29/09/2011 23:43

never mind the dots.... What makes my blood boil is the phonetic use of the letter "h". As in it should be pronounced "aitch". We used to be really told off if we ever dare say "haitch" (still makes me shudder) yet most of the young primary teachers pronounce it incorrectly.

......that and having letters from school or notes from a teacher with incorrect spelling or grammar. Argh. What hope.

Quidsi · 29/09/2011 23:53

manic that drivesd me mad. My name has 2 aitches in it yet my DD has been taught that my name has 3 haitches. I want to kill her teacher. Too harsh?

Quidsi · 29/09/2011 23:54

Oops sorry my DD has been taught my name has 2 haitches - don't know where the extra Haitch came from. Probably the fecking teacher.

JennyPiccolo · 30/09/2011 00:05

Dots just make you look like a fucking plumb.

mablemurple · 30/09/2011 00:10

OP were you around at the same time as Lavenderrr.....? Her posting style made copious use of dots....... maybe she used them all up......certainly more than her fair share..... not sure she was aware that it was three dots then that's it though.......

cecilyparsley · 30/09/2011 01:11

the copious use of dots thing, conveys (I think) a general sense of dippy-ness, a slightly hesitant manner.
I dont much like it.

Possibly there's a correlation with rising inflexion?
or would that be a multiple question mark thing?
I bloody hate rising inflexion Angry

bunnyfoofoosrevenge · 30/09/2011 01:21

yabu

Three dots if the ellipsis occurs within a sentence.

Four dots if the ellipsis comes at the end of sentence.

bunnyfoofoosrevenge · 30/09/2011 01:21

the! the sentence!

LRDTheFeministDragon · 30/09/2011 01:36

What if I'm Pinter? Or if I know punctuation ain't grammar?

Have a ..................................................................................>

lifechanger · 30/09/2011 06:21

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lifechanger · 30/09/2011 06:22

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lifechanger · 30/09/2011 06:23

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