When writing on MyLot, do you ever pause when you have to decide whether to use an exclamation point or a period?

@TheHorse (205716)
Walnut Creek, California
June 30, 2020 11:57am CST
I was writing an email for my Filipino stereo buddy this morning. He's in his 70s and has has (minor) heart and asthma (spelled it right on the second try) issues. So he's house-bound and a bit depressed. As I was about to write "Thanks for letting me borrow your CD player" (while mine was broken), I paused. I wasn't sure whether to use a period or an exclamation point. There's nothing that bothers someone feeling depressed more than a cheery person. I think I decided to use the exclamation point anyway, as it was the only one in my email, and I did want to convey my sincere thanks. Do you ever pause when writing and spend precious seconds deciding whether to use a period or an exclamation point? Or which word to use?
16 people like this
18 responses
Abishek S K
@Lignitecityabishek96 (7110)
• Cuddalore, India
30 Jun 20
I go with grammarly's suggestion whenever I gets stuck.
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 20
Ah, I've never tried grammarly. I do look up the exact meaning of words now and then.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 20
@Lignitecityabishek96 Do you enter a word and find similar words?
1 person likes this
Abishek S K
@Lignitecityabishek96 (7110)
• Cuddalore, India
30 Jun 20
@TheHorse Try it once. It can make your writings better. It can be used only through lap or desktop.
1 person likes this
Thelma
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
30 Jun 20
I take many pauses especially if I don't know the English word of what I was about to write. Sometimes, my German words pop up on my head and landed on the discussion that I have to be careful.
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 20
Heh. I would chuckle (and look it up) if that happened.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 20
@thelme55 I hope je catch one before you do. Heh. (Can you spot the "typo"?)
1 person likes this
Thelma
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
30 Jun 20
@TheHorse Yes, I did chuckle when I found German words in my post. Gladfully, I edited them.
1 person likes this
Stacey
@xstitcher (30284)
• Petaluma, California
30 Jun 20
Haven't thought about it (or, don't remember thinking about it...
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 20
Heh. I noticed my tendency when I was writing that email to my friend this morning.
Mike
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
30 Jun 20
If I write a response or comment I do think about what I am writing but not that much. If I write a rare discussion I think quite a bit and have abandoned literally hundreds of discussions because I can't get the words exactly right I worry about words more than punctuation and find the emojis very useful.
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 20
I never give up on a discussion or comment, but sometimes I feel uninspired and write less than I intended to. I don't use a lot of emojis, but sometimes do a pretend emoji in parentheses (sticking out tongue emoji next to whistling emoji).
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
30 Jun 20
I take many pauses and still wonder about what I type. Cute photo BTW.
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 20
Heh. Yeah, was one of my little cuties about five years ago. She was feeling sad about something that morning.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
30 Jun 20
@TheHorse A beautiful face.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 20
@CarolDM Last time I saw her, she was still lovely. She must be about nine now!
1 person likes this
Shaui
@Shauibee (610)
•
30 Jun 20
Yes, I do sometimes.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 20
Heh. I'm glad I'm not the only one.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 20
@Shauibee I have OCD about certain things. I even correct typos in my own old comments when I see them.
1 person likes this
Shaui
@Shauibee (610)
•
30 Jun 20
@TheHorse hahaha!
2 people like this
simplyme
@m_audrey6788 (58485)
• Germany
30 Jun 20
Yes. There are times that I want to think about the same thing like yours.
1 person likes this
simplyme
@m_audrey6788 (58485)
• Germany
1 Jul 20
@TheHorse Most of the time I just type what comes to my mind and try expressing it in a friendly way
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 20
Sometimes I think myself into a stupor. Other times I just type what comes to mind.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Jul 20
@m_audrey6788 I'm usually friendly. But some people know that I can be sarcastic. Or simply full of beans.
1 person likes this
marguicha
@marguicha (215405)
• Chile
1 Jul 20
I think about that when writing in my native language. Here it is different. So I use exclamation marks and emojics (Or are they called emoticons?)
1 person likes this
marguicha
@marguicha (215405)
• Chile
1 Jul 20
@TheHorse I have had to learn a new language online. Not only I fave expanded my Ennglish, but I have learned a lot about the America way of using letters instead of words. (lol or lmao for instance) It is not in any dictionary
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Jul 20
@marguicha Yes, those things are "since my time," so I rarely use them, but I do understand them. ROFLMFAO.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Jul 20
I've heard them referred to as both emoticons and emojis.
1 person likes this
Sanna_S
@psanasangma (5884)
• India
2 Jul 20
Being not a native speaker .. many times I stopped and read again and again
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Jul 20
That probably helps. I am a bad typist. So I read over even short comments like this.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (306137)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
1 Jul 20
Not on e-mails. Only when I'm writing. Okay, I just edited what I was saying. Only so it would make sense.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Jul 20
Heh. I sometime am one key off to the left, right, top or bottom. I'll edit that. It's a disaster when that happens on guitar.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (306137)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
2 Jul 20
@TheHorse I'll edit that too. I hate it when my fingers are misplaced. I'm sure it is a disaster on the guitar.
Ruby Hawk
@RubyHawk (99425)
• Atlanta, Georgia
3 Jul 20
I do sometimes if it's something important. But most of the time I just keep writing.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Jul 20
Sometimes I think I should cogitate less and write more.
1 person likes this
Ruby Hawk
@RubyHawk (99425)
• Atlanta, Georgia
4 Jul 20
i don't always follow the rules, I just write on with all my mistakes.
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
30 Jun 20
It's hard to convey exactly how you feel when writing instead of speaking. I always use an exclamation point when I'm feeling strongly about the topic and choose my words carefully. Who is the little cutie? Have a great day!!!
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 20
Heh. Thanks You too!! The little cutie was one of my favorite kidlets about five years ago. She was with me for several years. In fact, I've known her since she was two pretty little eyes looking at me from a baby's body. She was sad that day for some reason, so I decided to dig up this photo.
1 person likes this
Sexy Girl
@JimBo452020 (42629)
• United Kingdom
30 Jun 20
I ponder what to say or what to use quite often. Usually just end up with one of these!
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The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 20
Just a regular ol' comment? Thoughtful but not over-the-top?
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The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 20
@JimBo452020 Heh. I don't think I am either.
1 person likes this
Sexy Girl
@JimBo452020 (42629)
• United Kingdom
30 Jun 20
@TheHorse Thank you so much for your most kind words. I could never even imagine myself going over the top with any comment at all. Hooe you have a wonderful , happy, and thoughtful day. I was going to add Blessed Be, but that would really be well over the top. And I do not do that, at all, ever.
1 person likes this
Adie
@Adie04 (17360)
•
1 Jul 20
Usually if I write a title, I usually just left it without a punctuation. Only few posts that I might put one.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Jul 20
@Adie04 Heh. As you know, I'm working on a book right now.
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Jul 20
I try to get my punctuation right no matter what.
Adie
@Adie04 (17360)
•
2 Jul 20
@TheHorse that's good to practice. For academic writing, you could get 100 marks
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Alfredo Rossi
@amadeo (111948)
• United States
30 Jun 20
NO
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 20
You just "go for it"?
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (95140)
• Marion, Ohio
30 Jun 20
More often it is what word I want to use that makes me think.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 20
I do that too. I don't like repeating words in a sentence if I can avoid it. And some words are more "nuanced" than others.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246751)
• United States
4 Jul 20
I'm very upbeat and happy, and know I use exclamation points way too often where a period would do. I do try to search for the right words to use at times.
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Jul 20
I don't use exclamation points too often. I use them here - usually, in pairs, to try to denote that I'm joking. I edit my discussions carefully and try to write 'well'. It's just something I do.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Jul 20
Same here. Sometimes I write posts that are "full of beans." But that's just because I love Mark Twain.
1 person likes this