Using the QUOTE feature

Gatorboy · Jun 17, 2004

Just an observation and suggestion:

I don't know if this is something that some of guys haven't learned yet, or maybe they're just not taking the time to do it. But when you want to quote someone else, it's an easy thing to do to hit the "quote" button. Then you can highlight any and all words that don't need quoting and you can hit the delete button to take them out. In this way, you can pick out just the part of someone else's post that you want to address without totally repeating everything that that person has said. This is especially true with long posts and you're the very first person to reply. There isn't any point in going through a long post twice. It really makes your reply quicker and easier to read if you'll just spend a few seconds editing out what is unnecessary to make your point.

RobS · Jun 17, 2004

( But when you want to quote someone else, it's an easy thing to do to hit the "quote" button. Then you can highlight any and all words that don't need quoting and you can hit the delete button to take them out. In this way, you can pick out just the part of someone else's post that you want to address without totally repeating everything that that person has said )

Like this Dave? I've never used it myself. I use the blue color tags but the quote seems to work the same. Thanks for the tip /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

AndyM · Jun 17, 2004

( I don't know if this is something that some of guys haven't learned yet, or maybe they're just not taking the time to do it. But when you want to quote someone else, it's an easy thing to do to hit the "quote" button. Then you can highlight any and all words that don't need quoting and you can hit the delete button to take them out. In this way, you can pick out just the part of someone else's post that you want to address without totally repeating everything that that person has said. This is especially true with long posts and you're the very first person to reply. There isn't any point in going through a long post twice. It really makes your reply quicker and easier to read if you'll just spend a few seconds editing out what is unnecessary to make your point. )

I used to use it, but then if you go in and edit anything in your post, everything ends up looking like this! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
I've found it's easier to use a blue font color and put my quote inside that. Then, if I have to go back in and edit my post for any reason, my nice blue quotes don't turn red.

Gatorboy · Jun 17, 2004

( I've found it's easier to use a blue font color and put my quote inside that. ) 

How you end up quoting doesn't matter, the point is not to "quote" the entire post, only the sentence or two that applies to your response.

Gatorboy · Jun 17, 2004

( I used to use it, but then if you go in and edit anything in your post, everything ends up looking like this! )

If you edit a post that used the {quote} tags, you have to enter them back in manually, otherwise you get what you have shown. Using the blue font is probably the better way, for it will edit properly without any extra edits.

AndyM · Jun 17, 2004

If you edit a post that used the {quote} tags, you have to enter them back in manually, otherwise you get what you have shown. Using the blue font is the best, for it will edit properly without any extra edits. 

That's why I use the blue font instead of the quote feature.
It saves me from the extra effort of re-entering the quote tags manually if I have to edit my post for any reason. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Gatorboy · Jun 17, 2004

( That's why I use the blue font instead of the quote feature. ) 

Now, if you can just NOT quote the entire post you are responding too (like you have done in the two quotes in this thread). /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

OkeeDon · Jun 17, 2004

Sometimes when you selectively quote, you can change the meaning. So, it's a good practice to indicate that words have been left out. Good gramar suggests the use of ellipsis marks -- a series of 3 periods. For example:

 ...if you can...post...two quotes in this thread... 

In the electronic messaging world, the use of {snip} is also gaining popularity:

{snip} quote the entire post {snip}

Maybe we need an emoticon that looks like

The important thing is to indicate in some manner that you have not quoted the entire message.

Cliff_Johns · Jun 17, 2004

( Sometimes when you selectively quote, you can change the meaning. So, it's a good practice to indicate that words have been left out . . . )

I usually trim my quotes, but I have failed to indicate that I have done so. A very good point, OkeeDon. Thanks for the reminder.

Cliff

Poppa · Jun 17, 2004

( ( I don't know if this is something that some of guys haven't learned yet, or maybe they're just not taking the time to do it. But when you want to quote someone else, it's an easy thing to do to hit the "quote" button. Then you can highlight any and all words that don't need quoting and you can hit the delete button to take them out. In this way, you can pick out just the part of someone else's post that you want to address without totally repeating everything that that person has said. This is especially true with long posts and you're the very first person to reply. There isn't any point in going through a long post twice. It really makes your reply quicker and easier to read if you'll just spend a few seconds editing out what is unnecessary to make your point. )

I used to use it, but then if you go in and edit anything in your post, everything ends up looking like this! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
I've found it's easier to use a blue font color and put my quote inside that. Then, if I have to go back in and edit my post for any reason, my nice blue quotes don't turn red. )

Sorry, couldn't help it had to find out what would happen if I quoted one of those edited post quotes then edited it myself. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Mike