Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#145412 07/25/05 10:22 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
B
old hand
OP Offline
old hand
B
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
I was wondering whether you guys define both '.....' and '-----' as dotted lines. The latter is often shown in lower case, but I'm thinking of it more in terms of layout programs rather than typography anyway. I've have also seen 'dashed' for the second, though I'm not sure if that's a US usage or not. It makes sense to me but sounds a little weird. I think 'broken line' it pretty common too. Any comments?


#145413 07/25/05 10:24 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Dashed works for me. We see both in charts and diagrams of all sorts.


#145414 07/25/05 12:16 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 500
E
addict
Offline
addict
E
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 500
I like "dashed", too. After all, that's what it is. Makes a difference in origami, too, between mountain and valley folds.


#145415 07/25/05 12:26 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
dotted and dashed are two separate border styles in css coding.



formerly known as etaoin...
#145416 07/25/05 01:18 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
B
old hand
OP Offline
old hand
B
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
> dotted and dashed are two separate border styles in css coding.

Right. Thing is in the Springer Computing Dictionary it gives 'dotted' for, well, 'dashed' lines. This is why I guessed that 'dashed' maybe USn and UK English uses 'dotted' for both. Dictionary.com gives 'dashed' as a synonym of dotted:
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=dashed


#145417 07/25/05 01:26 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
ah.

I'm wondering if perhaps the specificity (in usage, anyway) of the terms hasn't changed lately because of the whole "dot" thing.



formerly known as etaoin...
#145418 07/25/05 02:28 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 427
addict
Offline
addict
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 427
Living in the UK, I don't think I ever heard "dashed line". Forms would require you to "Sign on the dotted line" and while most often these were indeed composed of dots, I have occasionally seen the one that was made out of dashes and still in the "dotted line" category, though...



Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,351
Members9,182
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 775 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,549
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,918
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5