Explain periods to me

[LisaR]

Not that kind of period. Sheesh!

I have noticed so many posts lately with excessive periods. This isn't just an occasional period. There are multiple periods in one sentence:

Today I. went to. the grocery. store and I. bought laundry. soap.

What the heck? I'm guessing this has something to do with modern technology versus lack of grammar skills. With the smaller buttons on cell phones or the difficulty of typing on a tablet, maybe people don't realize they are hitting the period so much? All I know is I am seeing it more and more. Just me?

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Originally Posted by LisaR

Not that kind of period. Sheesh!

I have noticed so many posts lately with excessive periods. This isn't just an occasional period. There are multiple periods in one sentence:

Today I. went to. the grocery. store and I. bought laundry. soap.

What the heck? I'm guessing this has something to do with modern technology versus lack of grammar skills. With the smaller buttons on cell phones or the difficulty of typing on a tablet, maybe people don't realize they are hitting the period so much? All I know is I am seeing it more and more. Just me?

I've seen people do it if their space key is broken. That's the only reason though.

ETA: Or some people use then to say something word by word.

[sam_gordon]

Originally Posted by LisaR

Not that kind of period. Sheesh!

I have noticed so many posts lately with excessive periods. This isn't just an occasional period. There are multiple periods in one sentence:

Today I. went to. the grocery. store and I. bought laundry. soap.

What the heck? I'm guessing this has something to do with modern technology versus lack of grammar skills. With the smaller buttons on cell phones or the difficulty of typing on a tablet, maybe people don't realize they are hitting the period so much? All I know is I am seeing it more and more. Just me?

I have seen them used as emphasis... (not that kind of too many periods, right? )

Just. Stop. It. Now.

So you would read it like you would reading a sentence... with a pause for each.

The example you use I would guess is a "fat finger" type of thing on a phone/tablet.

[Chuckers]

Originally Posted by LisaR

Not that kind of period. Sheesh!

I have noticed so many posts lately with excessive periods. This isn't just an occasional period. There are multiple periods in one sentence:

Today I. went to. the grocery. store and I. bought laundry. soap.

What the heck? I'm guessing this has something to do with modern technology versus lack of grammar skills. With the smaller buttons on cell phones or the difficulty of typing on a tablet, maybe people don't realize they are hitting the period so much? All I know is I am seeing it more and more. Just me?

On many mobile phones, if you hit the space button twice, a period is automatically inserted.

[Shutterbug]

Originally Posted by Chuckers

On many mobile phones, if you hit the space button twice, a period is automatically inserted.

This.

[I Love Pluto]

Originally Posted by Chuckers

On many mobile phones, if you hit the space button twice, a period is automatically inserted.

This was my explanation also. I think that's it. Modern technology!

[ManyMinnie]

Originally Posted by Chuckers

On many mobile phones, if you hit the space button twice, a period is automatically inserted.

Yup. Iphones do that.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

[BadgerGirl84]

If you're reading it on a blog or something, it's probably done for emphasis, like a PP mentioned. I see it a lot these days. Used when you would say something really slowly and dramatically.

like...

Oh. My. Word.

If it's a text message, or the emphasis thing isn't make any sense, probably typo/SmartPhone-weirdness.

[castleview]

I'm queen of them. When you don't write concisely and never feel like finishing a sentence they come in handy….perhaps I should work on that.

[LisaR]

Originally Posted by BadgerGirl84

If you're reading it on a blog or something, it's probably done for emphasis, like a PP mentioned. I see it a lot these days. Used when you would say something really slowly and dramatically.

like...

Oh. My. Word.

If it's a text message, or the emphasis thing isn't make any sense, probably typo/SmartPhone-weirdness.

Definitely not done for emphasis. I just read a post on the Dis from someone who is a great writer, but she used an overabundance of unnecessary periods. I expected to see, "Sent from my iphone" at the bottom, but it didn't say that.

I follow this one blog which is also well written. The person posted from an ipad for the first time today and the post was littered with periods. I don't get how she didn't notice it before posting, or go back and correct it once she posted.

I do know that my smart phone does a period if I hit the space bar twice, but I always try to watch for it and correct it. It seems fewer people are making the correction.

[JennaDeeDooDah]

So a question. Do you find it more irritating when a person uses no period at all so their sentence just seems to ramble on with no punctuation of any sort leaving you reading the line over and over to try and figure out what the person is saying which would be much easier if they would just use one simple piece of punctuation

Or

A. Person. Who. Uses. Far. Too. Much. Punctuation. Leaving. You. Wondering. Why. They. Do. That. And. What. Point. They. Are. Trying. To. Convey?

[LisaR]

Originally Posted by JennaDeeDooDah

So a question. Do you find it more irritating when a person uses no period at all so their sentence just seems to ramble on with no punctuation of any sort leaving you reading the line over and over to try and figure out what the person is saying which would be much easier if they would just use one simple piece of punctuation

Or

A. Person. Who. Uses. Far. Too. Much. Punctuation. Leaving. You. Wondering. Why. They. Do. That. And. What. Point. They. Are. Trying. To. Convey?

I got a headache reading both!

[SandrA9810]

You don't have to use the App to make a post, and you can edit the signature part to not include where the post is coming from. I'm not fond of the app, and choose to use the browser when I'm reading the Dis on my phone.

I've also noticed a lot of wrong words being used, like autocorrect making it's own post.

[Deb in IA]

Originally Posted by BadgerGirl84

If you're reading it on a blog or something, it's probably done for emphasis, like a PP mentioned. I see it a lot these days. Used when you would say something really slowly and dramatically.

like...

Oh. My. Word.

If it's a text message, or the emphasis thing isn't make any sense, probably typo/SmartPhone-weirdness.

That's how I've seen it, as in "Best. Movie. Ever."

I think it is a bit lame, but that's just me.

[StephMK]

I know what you mean, these are different than the periods placed separately for emphasis. Very randomly spaced. The space bar reason makes the most sense based on what I've seen.