Non-motoring > Using asterisks to emphasise a word	Miscellaneous
Thread Author: L'escargot	Replies: 37

New Wed 16 Mar 11 09:51   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - L'escargot

Why do some members use asterisks before and after a word to emphasise the word? Where did the practice originate? I've never seen it done anywhere other than in an internet forum. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 09:54   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - FotheringtonTomas

Usenet. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usenet A very Good Thing indeed, which has for some time been falling into disuse. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 10:12   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - L'escargot

I found numerous, nearly countless, instances in the website in which inverted commas had been use to emphasise a word or phrase, but I couldn't find a single reference to the use of asterisks. Please point me to the right place. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 10:16   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Cliff Pope

*Here* ! Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 10:19   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - L'escargot

>> *Here* ! >> I said in the website, which Fotherington Tomas claims is the source of the practice. Last edited by: L'escargot on Wed 16 Mar 11 at 10:20 Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 10:25   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Zero

>> >> *Here* ! >> >> >> >> I said in the website, which Fotherington Tomas claims is the source of the practice. Which website? FT was referring to usenet which was the predecessor to web sites and web based forums. The practise originated there. Last edited by: Zero on Wed 16 Mar 11 at 10:26 Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 16:04   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - L'escargot

>> Which website? >> The practise originated there. Practise? Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 10:44   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - John H

>> I said in the website, which Fotherington Tomas claims is the source of the practice. >> FT referred you to a wikipedia web page that explains what *Usenet* is. Wikipedia is not a Usenet forum. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 10:22   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Zero

>> Why do some members use asterisks before and after a word to emphasise the word? Because we *can* >> Where did the practice originate? I've never seen it done anywhere other than in an >> internet forum. That would indicate to me it originated in internet forums. Lots of things originated there, like smilies ;-) They came from the usenet. Sometimes we also do things like ~this~ or #this# Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 10:45   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Fenlander

I use them. I caught the habit over on HJ from Mark(Brazil). Useful to add extra emphasis such as... I *really* hate Victorian terraced streets with lines of wheelie bins and gas/elec meter boxes bolted to the bay windows. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 10:41   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Skoda

I picked it up from IRC in me yoof, but usenet's the originator of _all_ the funny notation I can think of just now. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 10:47   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Zero

*some* will claim that it all originated in SMS txt spk. Hwvr thts > NOT < the case at all. Usenet is *the* source ~smug smile~ Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 11:52   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Focusless

meatballwiki.org/wiki/CharacterFormattingRules "Solution 2: Usenet Style Emphasis At the time of the release of Wiki in 1995 the Usenet (i.e. News) was quite active and mature. There evolved on there a common convention that asterisks on either side of text signified bold. " Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 11:54   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Alanovich

Asterisks have also come to mean someting other than emphasis on internet forums. *leaves the room to make a cup of tea* Right, I'm back. Did this also originate on Usenet? Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 11:59   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Zero

Some of that originated on the text only dungeons and dragons type games. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 12:22   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Dog

I orften use *aster risks* to place an *emphasis* on a word, purely because I *don't* know how to have a word or sentence appear in *bold* italics or underlined. *Please* don't tell me the modus operandi though because I think it can make text look a tad untidy. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 13:38   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Dog

I geddit now ;} Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 13:49   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Bellboy

i was learnt to use 'them' at skool Last edited by: Bellboy on Wed 16 Mar 11 at 13:50 Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 14:26   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - TheManWithNoName

God Almighty, there's some trivia posted on here sometimes. *shakes head whilst eating cheese and pickle roll* ;-) Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 14:36   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Runfer D'Hills

I like trivia. Did you know, for example, that the average human adult loses around a pint of sweat through their feet everyday? Most of it evaporates of course but some of it stays in the innermost reaches of your footwear. Makes you think hard about wellies doesn't it? Notwithstanding that, if you share an office with others you are breathing, among other things, their foot sweat... ******* **** ( another use for asterisks ) :-) Edit - bet that's put you off the cheese roll.... Last edited by: Humph D'Bout on Wed 16 Mar 11 at 14:38 Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 15:09   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - commerdriver

>> I like trivia. Did you know, for example, that the average human adult loses around >> a pint of sweat through their feet everyday? Most of it evaporates of course but >> some of it stays in the innermost reaches of your footwear. Makes you think hard >> about wellies doesn't it? As a famous Scots philosopher once said "you can always tell, when someone takes aff his wellies" Last edited by: VxFan on Sat 19 Mar 11 at 23:58 Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 14:36   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Iffy

...there's some trivia posted on here sometimes...*shakes head whilst eating cheese and pickle roll*... What type of cheese? Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 14:52   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - BiggerBadderDave

I'm eating a lot of Piccalilli at the moment. About a jar a week. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 14:53   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Runfer D'Hills

I find piccalilli varies in quality. Do you favour a particular brand? Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 14:58   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - BiggerBadderDave

I can only get Marks and Spencer's own brand - but it's top notch... Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 15:01   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Runfer D'Hills

I have never got on with the fine cut Branston pickle. The chunky version tastes so much better. Often wondered if I would recognise a rutabaga or whatever they are called if a live one leapt out in front of me though. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 15:05   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Zero

Yes with you there Humph. Classic Branston with a pork pie! *Yummy* Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 15:12   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Alanovich

Have you tried the Waitrose own branded pork, cheese and pickle pies? One of my guiltiest pleasures. Along with John Denver. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 15:07   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Alanovich

>> Often wondered if I would recognise a rutabaga Just another word for swede. Or turnip. But let's not start on that one again, the (real) Scots will get humpy. ;-) Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 15:11   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Iffy

...Often wondered if I would recognise a rutabaga... I thought it was a large American motorhome. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 15:12   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Runfer D'Hills

That's quite disappointing. I had until now the highest regard for the Branston company. Something solid and reliable about brands like that. Then they go and start giving turnips a fancy name. It's just not right. Makes me want to type something in asterisks... Edit - anyway it's definitely turnip not swede. Who ever heard of a swede lantern eh ? Last edited by: Humph D'Bout on Wed 16 Mar 11 at 15:17 Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 15:20   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Runfer D'Hills

Double edit - or indeed haggis, *swedes* and tatties eh ?...Preposterous. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 15:24   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Zero

>> Who ever heard of a swede lantern >> eh ? You get them in Ikea. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 15:27   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Armel Coussine

Sir, Am I alone in retaining an affection for that delicate and profuse root vegetable, the much-derided mangel-wurzel? Baby mangel-wurzels, roughly chopped (do not do this in front of children if they are of a sensitive nature), and steeped for a few minutes in heavily diluted balsamic vinegar with two (2) cloves and a SINGLE coriander seed, will make a chutney of unparallelled blandness and dreariness, suited to the most sensitive English palate. What has become of our traditional cuisine? I fear we are being drowned in a tsunami of American ketchups and ferocious mustard sauces. Yrs etc., Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 16:32   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - CGNorwich

Rutabaga is the French name for what the English call a Swede and the Scots once called a neep or tumshie. (Brassica napus napobrassica). What the English call a turnip is Brassica napa although they sometimes mean the manager of the English football team. The Swedes call a Swede a Rutabaga too which apparently means red bag in Swedish . Trust is all now clear Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 14:50   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Dave_

Asterisks either side of a word in faceybook chat make it go bold. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Mar 11 14:54   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Armel Coussine

I find asterisks used instead of inverted commas or 'quote marks' *strangely irritating*. ^What next for heaven's sake? What's wrong with normal punctuation?^ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Reply to this message | Report message       1

New Wed 16 Mar 11 17:13   Using asterisks to emphasise a word - Dave_

>> ^What's wrong with normal punctuation?^ What indeed!!!!1!!11!1!!1 Reply to this message | Report message