It’s really only a “full stop” when it’s the last or only sentence, not just any sentence with a period. It’s related to phones only adding the period if you hit space twice. So by default, single sentences never have it because you don’t continue typing. So actually putting it in is intentional for many people and they are in fact making a statement akin to “this is my final word on the matter”.
It’s the difference between
“Can you help me with this?” “No”
And
“Can you help me with this?” “No.”
That extra “.” after “No” wasn’t strictly necessary, so by including it on purpose, you’re making a statement. That’s the general thought process going on with people who find it passive aggressive.
You can also go back even further to T9 typing and texting shorthand and see that punctuation was largely ignored due to message size limitations and difficulties typing on a phone in general. It’s something that has evolved over time due to the medium. The main issue is people who have gone through this transition see it one way, and people who are used to more formal writing suddenly joining the internet see it another way. I would say it’s more like regional accents. Both are correct depending on context.
The only reason your phone doesn’t add the punctuation in for you like it does the automatic capitalization of the first letter is because it can’t tell when you’ve finished your complete thought.
I’ll never let lazy cunts tell me I’m being passive aggressive for using goddamn proper punctuation. I’ll be actively aggressive about that.
edit:
Can anybody in this thread who actively omits periods in texts specifically because of the negative connotations explain to me why they think that having that be a normal convention is actually good?
Like, why would anybody want an option to sign off their texts with a passive aggressive slant? I can’t wrap my head around it.
The firm believers in the whole “language is constantly evolving and has no rules” thing would probably not like it if future generations decided fuck using punctuation altogether. No commas, no questions marks, no paragraph breaks. It’s easier for them because they normally communicate in five dimensional haptic virtual reality where punctuation is an anachronistic holdover. How come you aren’t on board with their wacky language rules?
I don’t give a shit if you don’t use punctuation in texts or not, that’s entirely on you and I don’t judge people for using shortcuts, but fuck if I’m going to let someone tell me using a period to end my sentences indicates anything other than “I have finished my thought / I have finished speaking.”.
Because it can signal annoyance? It’s almost like having more possible meanings adds depth to conversation. The end of a text is already final enough, so a period doesn’t add any functionality that way unless you somehow believe someone got raptured mid sentence and still hit send.
It’s like if you asked someone, “How are you?” And they said “I’m fine” or “I’m fine.” or “I’m fine!” or “I’m fine?” or “I’m fine…”
It signals different connotations and tones for all five. Period is no longer default since they aren’t required, so they have taken on additional meaning
The end of a text is already final enough, so a period doesn’t add any functionality that way unless you somehow believe someone got raptured mid sentence and still hit send.
Sure it does. It disambiguates sentences from questions.
If you received a text that read “Buy bread”, there are multiple ways to interpret that. If I assume the lack of a period is a statement, then I would assume the person is instructing me to buy some bread at the store. But if there were a question mark at the end, the meaning changes - they are asking if they need to buy bread, or perhaps asking if I have already bought bread or am planning to buy bread.
Now, if you are familiar with the person on the other end of the text, you might already have the necessary context to parse it out without the need for formal punctuation, but if it’s someone you maybe don’t text very often or a complete stranger, wouldn’t it be nice to know for sure if they were making a statement or asking a question, definitively and clearly?
Adding an intentional period removes any doubt that it might have been a question. It eliminates the possibility that the person on the other end simply forgot to add a question mark while typing out a hasty text at the grocery store.
You might argue that period or no, the message got across just fine, and that assuming no punctuation is the same as having a period, but that’s not the point. The point is that the period does add functionality, it just isn’t functionality that you deem useful.
I certainly wouldn’t want to replace the effectiveness of proper punctuation in favor of having the period be reduced to a means of signing off my messages in a passive aggressive manner. I can do that all by myself, thank you very much.
Look, I explained how it developed and why it’s used that way. I also explained the difference between a “full stop” and a “period”. If your reading comprehension is that terrible, maybe don’t get involved in discussions about linguistics because it clearly went right over your simple minded little head.
They very clearly and calmly explained the dynamics of both sides of this debate, and you responded by inanely reiterating your original point which they obviously already understood.
I’m not “talking past” anyone, I was simply reiterating my basic point, which is all that needs to be said. He can talk all he wants, and it still doesn’t change the basic fact that a sentence should always ends with a Period (or some other punctuation), no matter what common usage at the time.
And more importantly, the idea that a Period carries emotional baggage like Passive Aggression is silly, and self-indulgent. Nobody should have to think about you that much that they should worry whether you’ll be offended by a period. If you require that much emotional maintenance that it extends to punctuation, then you are just a giant pain in the ass to everyone around you, and you need to grow up and get a life.
Don’t care. I don’t live my life to please others, and I’m not going to stop using periods because some linguistically ignorant doofus thinks texting is the proper arena to create new language rules. Texting is supposed to be casual and fast, and likes to use single numbers, single letters, and emojis to communicate, as well. It’s fun, but it shouldn’t be influencing the language enough that it becomes acceptable in literature, instructional manuals, legal documents, news reports, etc. Now you want to apply a whole new slew of grammar rules to something that was supposed to be NOT THAT.
Too bad if your precious feelings are hurt by a Passive Aggressive Period, or a Snooty Question Mark. Grow the fuck up.
Lol I’m not, I just communicate easily with normal people, and know that when I read texts from ancient curmudgeons, I need to first filter out their poor communication skills.
It’s really only a “full stop” when it’s the last or only sentence, not just any sentence with a period. It’s related to phones only adding the period if you hit space twice. So by default, single sentences never have it because you don’t continue typing. So actually putting it in is intentional for many people and they are in fact making a statement akin to “this is my final word on the matter”.
It’s the difference between
“Can you help me with this?” “No”
And
“Can you help me with this?” “No.”
That extra “.” after “No” wasn’t strictly necessary, so by including it on purpose, you’re making a statement. That’s the general thought process going on with people who find it passive aggressive.
You can also go back even further to T9 typing and texting shorthand and see that punctuation was largely ignored due to message size limitations and difficulties typing on a phone in general. It’s something that has evolved over time due to the medium. The main issue is people who have gone through this transition see it one way, and people who are used to more formal writing suddenly joining the internet see it another way. I would say it’s more like regional accents. Both are correct depending on context.
The only reason your phone doesn’t add the punctuation in for you like it does the automatic capitalization of the first letter is because it can’t tell when you’ve finished your complete thought.
I’ll never let lazy cunts tell me I’m being passive aggressive for using goddamn proper punctuation. I’ll be actively aggressive about that.
edit:
Can anybody in this thread who actively omits periods in texts specifically because of the negative connotations explain to me why they think that having that be a normal convention is actually good?
Like, why would anybody want an option to sign off their texts with a passive aggressive slant? I can’t wrap my head around it.
The firm believers in the whole “language is constantly evolving and has no rules” thing would probably not like it if future generations decided fuck using punctuation altogether. No commas, no questions marks, no paragraph breaks. It’s easier for them because they normally communicate in five dimensional haptic virtual reality where punctuation is an anachronistic holdover. How come you aren’t on board with their wacky language rules?
I don’t give a shit if you don’t use punctuation in texts or not, that’s entirely on you and I don’t judge people for using shortcuts, but fuck if I’m going to let someone tell me using a period to end my sentences indicates anything other than “I have finished my thought / I have finished speaking.”.
Because it can signal annoyance? It’s almost like having more possible meanings adds depth to conversation. The end of a text is already final enough, so a period doesn’t add any functionality that way unless you somehow believe someone got raptured mid sentence and still hit send.
It’s like if you asked someone, “How are you?” And they said “I’m fine” or “I’m fine.” or “I’m fine!” or “I’m fine?” or “I’m fine…”
It signals different connotations and tones for all five. Period is no longer default since they aren’t required, so they have taken on additional meaning
Sure it does. It disambiguates sentences from questions.
If you received a text that read “Buy bread”, there are multiple ways to interpret that. If I assume the lack of a period is a statement, then I would assume the person is instructing me to buy some bread at the store. But if there were a question mark at the end, the meaning changes - they are asking if they need to buy bread, or perhaps asking if I have already bought bread or am planning to buy bread.
Now, if you are familiar with the person on the other end of the text, you might already have the necessary context to parse it out without the need for formal punctuation, but if it’s someone you maybe don’t text very often or a complete stranger, wouldn’t it be nice to know for sure if they were making a statement or asking a question, definitively and clearly?
Adding an intentional period removes any doubt that it might have been a question. It eliminates the possibility that the person on the other end simply forgot to add a question mark while typing out a hasty text at the grocery store.
You might argue that period or no, the message got across just fine, and that assuming no punctuation is the same as having a period, but that’s not the point. The point is that the period does add functionality, it just isn’t functionality that you deem useful.
I certainly wouldn’t want to replace the effectiveness of proper punctuation in favor of having the period be reduced to a means of signing off my messages in a passive aggressive manner. I can do that all by myself, thank you very much.
Nope, you end a sentence with period. Period. That’s just basic punctuation, like starting a sentence with a capital letter.
Look, I explained how it developed and why it’s used that way. I also explained the difference between a “full stop” and a “period”. If your reading comprehension is that terrible, maybe don’t get involved in discussions about linguistics because it clearly went right over your simple minded little head.
I have excellent reading comprehension skills, and I understand everything you wrote, and I stand by my response.
And I said it without being a prick, too.
You really didnt
No, you were a prick who talked past them.
They very clearly and calmly explained the dynamics of both sides of this debate, and you responded by inanely reiterating your original point which they obviously already understood.
I’m not “talking past” anyone, I was simply reiterating my basic point, which is all that needs to be said. He can talk all he wants, and it still doesn’t change the basic fact that a sentence should always ends with a Period (or some other punctuation), no matter what common usage at the time.
And more importantly, the idea that a Period carries emotional baggage like Passive Aggression is silly, and self-indulgent. Nobody should have to think about you that much that they should worry whether you’ll be offended by a period. If you require that much emotional maintenance that it extends to punctuation, then you are just a giant pain in the ass to everyone around you, and you need to grow up and get a life.
Lmao, you keep acting like other people perceiving you as an asshole is a them problem when it is literally just a you problem.
It’s been 30 fucking years, learn how to text.
Don’t care. I don’t live my life to please others, and I’m not going to stop using periods because some linguistically ignorant doofus thinks texting is the proper arena to create new language rules. Texting is supposed to be casual and fast, and likes to use single numbers, single letters, and emojis to communicate, as well. It’s fun, but it shouldn’t be influencing the language enough that it becomes acceptable in literature, instructional manuals, legal documents, news reports, etc. Now you want to apply a whole new slew of grammar rules to something that was supposed to be NOT THAT.
Too bad if your precious feelings are hurt by a Passive Aggressive Period, or a Snooty Question Mark. Grow the fuck up.
Lol I’m not, I just communicate easily with normal people, and know that when I read texts from ancient curmudgeons, I need to first filter out their poor communication skills.
You know they’re exactly the same thing right ? Only north americans use the term “period”.
Old English used stops liberally, they were used in place of commas and semi-colons as well, it was called a full stop at the end of the sentence.